E 605 
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MAJOR HALL'S WIFE. 



A Thrilling Story of the Life of a Southern Wife and Mother, while a Refugee 
in the Confederacy, during the late struggle. 



Zsp a 



"WIRITTIEISr IBY HERSELF. 



SYRACUSE, N Y.: 

WEED & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 

1884. 



Copyright, 1883, by T. K. Fuller. 

ALL RIGIITS RESERVED. 






I 



CONTENTS. 



r 
v. 

i* 

PAGE 

ountain Mice 7 

rewell to Home 11 

Manchac - : - -- 15 

'n Camp 16 

Jrandon . 1? 

s it Forever? 23 

Vcross the River 28 

rhe Salt Lake. _ ---- 35 

iVas it Haunted?. 38 

VIount Lebanon 43 



PEEFACE 



The thrilling experiences detailed in the following pages, are not imaginary, but 
,, dents from real life. This story is a true one. She, who lived the reality, has sur- 
ged to tell the tale in her own simple, unobtrusive though forcible language, without 
* alteration of a single word. Those who peruse these lines will wonder how a lady o1 
elicate fibre and constitution could go through so much, and still live. 

When one views the plans she laid, unaided by a husband's thought, -the happy 
ome she abandoned for a wilderness of wandering, -the obstacles that obstructed her 
leparture and seemed to settle in her pathway at every step.-the difficulties she sur- 
lounted and risks she run, against the advice of friends, to accomplish her one fixed and 
[etermined purpose to follow the footsteps and fortunes of him she loved-the father of 
,cr children, then, then indeed! one will get a new idea of the beautiful love of the wife, 
md the noble daring of the mother! 

Too modest still, notwithstanding all her achievements, to write the preface of her 
own story, she commits that task to a friend. 1 have read the story. I am silenced m 
amazement at the labors she performed, the privations she suffered and the ends she 
accomplished' But more than all, do I admire the wifely love which prompted all this. 
I can only say— read the story. ^ FRIEND. 



MAJOR HALL'S WIFE, 



A Thrilling Story of the War Written by Herself. 



I CHAPTER I. 

I "THE mountain mice." 

\ "No volcanic eruption rends a mountain, without 
"disturbing the existence of its mice Thus, every 
"historical event has its bearing: upon the lives of its 
"private, and even ob-cure, individuals." 

Thus the fraternal war of our country 
disturbed and u>fluenced, for many years, 
the lives and fortunes of myself and family, 
whom I will designate "The Mountain 
Mice." On every street, from every house, 
were heard the popular airs of "Wearing of 
the Gray," "My Maryland," and "D xie." 
All was blithe and gay, for no doubts of the 
ultimate success of the Confederate cause 
entered the minds of the people. Not a 
single fear agitated their hearts, in regard 
to the fleet below the city. The blockade 
runners brought the only news from the 
puter world; and, occasionally, a letter from 
some Northern relative, reached us through 
their hands. 

The Confederate troops, under the com- 
mand of Brigadier-General Lovell, were 
quartered on the old battle fields below 
New Orleans, and were under strict military 
discipline. Profiting by, and assisting in 
that discipline, were companies of English, 
French and German troops, the brilliant 
uniform of the Chasseurs, the odd Zouaves, 
forming a striking contrast to the sober 
gray. They were all subject to every rule 
of camp life; but the Confederate portion 
of those quartered there afterwards found, 
by stern experience, that this was but holi- 
day camping after all. 



The gay city showed its full appreciation 
of this splendid mimicry of war; for its eve- 
ning dress parade, and its Sabbath religious 
exercises, combined to make the trip to 
camp the height of fashion. 

The ensuing week, camp was to be broken 
up; The Confederates were to be stationed 
in the city, part of them tenting in Coliseum 
Place; the remainder, in Magazine Square. 
So, this last Sabbath, it seemed as if the 
whole city had conspired to do honor to the 
day, 

To add to the attraction, the Chaplain of 
the Confederate Brigade, the Rev. Mr. Ful- 
ton, was to officiate 

He was one of the most eloquent and 
popular men of the city. Women and chil- 
dren, accompanied by their servants, who 
attended to baskets of provisions anr 1 wines, 
and looked after the welfare of the little 
ones, crowded tne Poochartrain cars. Such 
a chattering — English, Parisian French, 
Creole French, German and the soft patois 
of the Louisiana negro— filled the air. We 
were swiftly whirled to camp. As the white 
tents, the flags of the different companies, 
with the stars and bars rampant over all, 
came in sight, I little realized how soon the 
animated scene, the crowds of smiling peo- 
ple, — even my own beautiful boy arrayed 
in his Major's uniform, "Dess like p*pa," — 
the tender looks of my handsome husband, 
would be all lost to my view midst tears; 
and the gay pageant disappear in terror and 
darkness! 

It rises before me. The gay chatter, the 



8 



light badinage, followed by the reverential 
hush of the multitude, as every head was 
bowed in prayer! The impressive figure of 
the chaplain in bis severe black, surrounded 
by the staff officers, whose uniforms flit- 
tered with gold and crimson ! Above them, 
the large banner, whose heavy folds droop- 
ed, as if it feared, by raising itself on high, 
it might lose a word of that forcible prayer 
for its success! 

Below the stand, the brilliant and the 
gray uniforms were well contrasted with 
the light and airy costumes of the ladies. 
Ladies of all nations, of a31 degrees and 
ages, were there. The American southern 
ladies, with their aristocratic languor; the 
highbred vivacious French beauty ; the gold- 
en locks and blue eyes of the German. The 
grandmother, with her snowy puffs crowned 
with an airy bonnet of priceless lace, her 
rich silks and her unpurchasable diamonds; 
the little ones, dressed as no other city 
dresses her little ones. All were here rep- 
resented. 

Ah, the gay, the happy scenes! After the 
sermon, the crowd dispersed, and gathered 
itself into larger or smaller groups of 
familiar friends— to dine. 

I soon found myself, with a few of my 
own immediate circle of intimate friends, at 
the door of the tent appropriated to my hus- 
band and his brother officers. There, with 
sunny laughter and niild flirtation, we 
whiled the time away, whilst awaiting the 
summons to lunch— lunch, consisting of 
delicious gumbo, game of all kinds, and 
fruits only to be found in their perfection 
in the markets of New Orleans. Wines, 
both light and heavy; the inevitable cham- 
pagne. The beautiful children, with their 
dusky nurses, filled the pauses with their 
soft tones and sweet laughter. All was jest 
and merriment. Only one remark made in 
those joyous hours, recurs to my mind, 
after all these intervening years. Our 
youngest and favorite officer present, says, 
carelessly: "Next month will see the Fed- 
eral fleet on the Mississippi River, overlook- 
ing these 8»me fields, unless the powers that 
be, see fit to send our own General here. 
Here's to the health of General Beauregard! 
Glasses down, ladies!" 



Happy, holiday soldiering— when we 
in rocking chairs and drank our differ 
wines, each m its respective glass! 
after dining, retiring to our husband's p 
vate tent, to repair damages to toilet 
arrange dishevelled hair, finding in that 
all the appurtenances of the toilette, in 
form of pearl handled brushes, powd 
boxes and plate mirrors. 

Effeminate, yes! But where did thi 
effeminacy vanish, when, disorganized an< 
disbanded, they were scattered in all direc 
tions— some to lay in "Vicksburg's trenche 
—some to die in prisons— some, midst car 
non's roar and smoke of battle, to meet 
soldier's death! 

There was one at lunch, then, exchanginj 
repartee with "Belle Marie," who alway 
attended dress parade with snow white kids 
instead of the regulation cotton, as cotton] 
was so shoppy— his father was a cotton 
planter— who died bravely, with his face to 
his foes. He fought his enemies "without 
the gloves. " 

Happy days! To be viewed now through 
oceans of tears! Laughter, to be listened to 
now as an echo deadened by sighs and 
groans for the loved ones! All to be seen 
and heard as ghostly memories! Gay 
soldiery — sweet laughter — obscured and 
deadened by the presence of black-robed 
wives, sweethearts and mothers, who, with 
their sighs, filled the air around me! 

A few days after we find our soldiers in 
gray encamped in the city, and the tide r| 
fashionable life flowing towards tho \ 
squares. \ 

Whil-t in camp in the city my husban I 
was a frequent visitor at home. During \ 
those visits we had many discussions as to 
the advisability of my remaining in the city 
with my children, in the event of the troops 
being ordered into service outside of the 
city. Having no misgivings as to the im- 
pregnability of the forts Delow, we finally 
decided that a comfortable borne, well 
stocked with the necessaries of life, was not 
to be lightly abandoned 

The morning of the 23d of April dawned 
cloudless; and, with bright ai.d cheerful 
faces, the families of New Oi leans gathered 
in their breakfast rooms. How, when or 



9 



■where, the cloud of mistrust or anxiety 
arose, who can tell? But soon, at each un- 
locked gate, on neighboring galleries, wom- 
en, children and servants, were gathered, 
whispering low, that there was a possibility, 
only a possibility, that the Federal fleet 
could pass the forts! 

Later in the day I resolved upon visiting 
camp Finding no street cars running, 
I inquired the reason; was answered, "The 
mules are taken and being used by the mili- 
tary authorities;" but no one seemed to 
know on what duty. 

I walked to camp. All was uncertainty 
there. Rumors were afloat, as to the where- 
nouts of General Lovell. Some said, he 
as out of the city; others, that he was 
rf connoitering down the river. The truth 
w\ae, he was closeted with the civil author- 
ities, discussing the best plan to pursue, in 
tiase the Federal fleet succeeded in passing 
the forts. 

The whole atmosphere of the streets, as 

well as of the camp, seemed dispiriting and 

j saddening. A. loud tone or laugh jarred 

| upon one's nerves, as if in the presence of a 

{great sorrow. 

Our home, like many Southern homes, 

Jconsisted of many rooms on one floor; that 

• -mp, the house proper. Large rooms, opening 

,into a passage through the centre of the 

t. Chouse; and long windows in each room, 

,iopening upon a broad gallery extending all 

around the house. The kitchen department 

iwas a separate building, two storied. The 

lower floor consisted of storeroom, kitchf-n, 

wash room and servants' parlor. The upper 

floor was divided into sleeping rooms.whicb 

p»ened up'>n a gallery extending across the 

ront of the building. This building was 

^connected with the house by a covered 

Iwalk. 

As the short, southern twilight died away, 
and darkness usurped its place, I heard ex- 
clamations from the servants' quarters. I 
jjtarted to inquire into the cause of this dis- 
turbance, when the gate bell rang, and my 
llWsband was admitted. 



r 



lttus 



aBefore I could ask a question, he ex- 
ckirced, "Francie, have you observed the 
bght from the cotton burning? Come, go 
vith me to the servants' gallery ; I think we 



can see it from there." The street car ani- 
mals had been hauling cotton, all day, from 
the warehouses, to places designated for that 
purpose, that it might be burced. 

At that moment the cook ran in, exclaim- 
ing, "Oh, Miss Francie! The city down by 
the river must be all on fire!" 

In silence, my husband led the way. 
After reaching the gallery, from which we 
could see the glare of the fires, he tenderly 
said: "My darling, this is not an omen of 
good. I feel very sorry, that I did not, 
while my time was my own, send you and 
the children out into the Confederacy." 

The servants fell asleep. We sat long 
and late, upon the gallery, in almost utter 
silence. The baleful light of those fires did 
not incline us to conversation. I could not 
find it in my heart to press my anxieties on 
my husband, when his own depression was 
so evident. About midnight he rose, saying 
wearily, "Do not waken the servants. My 
wife must open the gate for her husband 
to-night. It may be the last time!" 

We went into the house. With his eyes 
filed with tears, he kissed our sleeping lit- 
tle ones. Lingering, he looked around the 
room, as if impressing upon his memory 
each familiar object. Each room we vis-- 
ited in succession; and, as each detail came 
to our notice, we recalled the circumstances 
under which, and with what &rdor, we had 
purchased each article for our home. 
Finally, taking the gate key from its nail 
on the gallery, he remarked: "Remember! 
If the forts should be passed, the signal is 
this: all the bells of the city toll nine 
o'clock! Stop, and repeat twice. If you 
hear these, let nothing deter you: come di- 
rect to camp!" 

The tun's glittering rays on the morning 
of April 24th could not dispel the gloom 
from the hearts of the people. As I was 
standing on the gallery, too dispirited to 
reply to the childish prattle around me, I 
heard a bell! ONE, TWO, THREE— 
Yes, the fatal nine! Butwnii! There may 
be a mistake! Again, solemnly, the nine 
strokes fall upon the ear! A pause — and 
again the banshee strokes! NEW OR- 
LEANS IS DEAD ! 

Before the last stroke had ceased, with 



10 



my hat on my head, my parasol in hand, 
breakfast forgotten, I stood at the unlocked 
gate saying, "Remember, Lucy! Keep chil- 
dren within; and on no account open the 
gate to a stranger!" 

On reaching camp I found all quiet. No 
orders had been given. General Lovell was 
reported to be in consultation with the 
Mayor. My husband proposed, if I felt 
equal to the walk, that I should proceed to 
his store and investigate the condition of 
affairs there. I proceeded to do so. I 
found the business houses closed. Not a 
person to be seen in that locality. Crowds 
of people were hurrying towards the r 



e 



i, officers and soldiers, now there |was 
nothing! I rubbed my eyes-, gazing aro und 
as if dazed! When at last I perceive d at 
the gate farthest from me, a wagon bt :mg 
loaded with the remains of the camp eq aip- 
age An officer galloping past me revised 
me into action. I rushed after him, asking 
eager questions. His reply contained no . 
information. Their substance was oijily, 
that camo was to be removed, but to what 

point few ofi the officers and none of the. 

men knew. 1 

Aa the camp wagon lumbered away 1| 

turned and mechanically followed it. Oi 

on, through street after street totally nr 



y v 

31 



of people were hurrying towards the river ^ ^ e until weie80he d the deposit 
with empty baskets and buckets; whilst ^ MlMiMippi Railr0 J. 

yet again, as great ^mbers were coming th and understanding, tje 

from the levee with utensils filled, and io . ^ 

carrying flitches of bacon and hams. scene before mo ^ fo fU1 

Whilst looking at the sight in mute won- lessness of fiadmg any c P £ 

der, I heard a voice: "Bnrdy, Mars Geoff scope; but to me * on y g 

ffiuS t be sick, to let Miss Franc, be on the though J^^ m/Lband's face 
^in"* I beheld the head man of the once more before he left me-perhaps for 
store, whose dignity was sorely hurt at see- ever! freight and passenger. 

ing his mistress on the street, unattended, Every car, o> 8 ^ 

and on foot. I ordered him to f ol ow me was £ ™ m ° 1 The eg ^ 

towards the river that I might see what was ed. In t hem on op ^ ^ 

being done. Whilst on the way he explain- ™*™*™™ 8 , lent , y marcfced into dfa 
ed to me that the owners of the warehouses ^ WJ1 " ere t L the tap of ti 

on the levee had opeoed them requesting yard Sdent exeep ^ m 

the people to take from them all they wish- drum and the ^ £ 

ed, preferring this method, to letting their were J^ ^«° P £ aDtg wto 
goods fall into the hands of the enemy. Wof^ n cbi d ^ from tbe ^ 

Hogsheads of sugar and molasses were ^7^^^ rt<mtd oort 
opened, each person carrying away all that I Indeed, tt 



was possible. Turning in the direction of 
camp again, I kept William in attendance 
until free from the crowd. It was not until 
long after that 1 realized the force and 
earnestness of that crowd. There was no 
rudeness, no quarreling. Neither was t 



1UUCCU, 1"^ v;"~.~., 

and in imagination, we already saw ou j 
houses pillaged and ourselves wanderei*; 

upon the earth. 

The coolness of the soldiers contrasted 
well with the confusion and mad U-rrc 
around them. I turned helplessly, I 



1P re was any I way and that-too apathetic and weary nl 
any oirth or laughter. If there was any way suddenly one of our Louisianvl 

conversation it left upon my mind "oH^^ bucke1 , of watl 
press of words. It was a mass of human be- showers came up 

Jog. m such deadly earnest that there seeme ^ f all *m ac ^ ^ 
seemed to be no room for words ^ a r, d welcome deluge seemed to waken 

By the time that I reached Magazine ^^Xn d inftu* new energy |i- 
atreet square my nervous excitement had my dull edm a j 

reached such a height that 1 ran, rather to my ^ spirits 1 cocUy 1 

than walked, into the gate. Am I dream- against a V^™**™*£ ^ 

L? Where a few hours before there were 'in search of an available po 



11 



questions. Among the many officers in 
sight, I selected the one whose trappings 
betokened the highest rank. Climbing 
over baggage, picking my way over the 
rail9, I approached him. But it was not 
until I was near enough to seize his bridle 
that I succeeded in attracting his attention. 
"Where is Company 'C.'?" said I. I now 
think it wa3 only his amazement at my sud- 
den appearance that prevented him collect- 
ing his thoughts quick enough to shake his 
bridle from my hand instead of answering 
me, as he did, in his surprise. Raising 
himself in his stirrups he pointed over line 
upon line of cars, to the farthest train, say 
ing: "The last row of cars. Be careful as 
you approach them, for there is a fearful 
ditch, and in this blinding rain you might 
easily fall into it." 

' This kind and courteous gentleman could 
not, even then, give a short answer to a 
woman. And let me here say that in all 
my experience and adventures during the 
war and on both sides, Federal and Confed- 
erate, the kindness I have met with has far 
overbalanced the rudeness. 

By the time I had reached the designated 
train my weary feet stumbled. My eyes 
were filled, not only with tears, but with 
the water which had soaked through my 
bonnet and gay flowers, and was now in 
various colors streaming down my face. 

Suddenly I heard the exclamation: 
"Major, surely that is your wife!" Some- 
thing in the tone arrested my attention, and 
I looked up In time to see my husband's 
horrified countenance as he elbowed his 
way out of the car, calling on William, j 
could not speak. I could ODly clasp my 
arms around his neck, forgetful of specta- 
tors, of all and everything, save the one 
fact that my love was going — I knew not 
where; and I might never see him again! 
With fervent kisses* he gently unclasped 
I my hands, saying to William: "Take your 
mistress into the depot. Fetch a carriage; 
and do not leave her until you put her safe 
in the house under Lucy's care." The en- 
gine shrieked. And that train, the first or- 
dered off, started. 

Owing to the confusion, William found 
that he could not get any one to order a 



back, and not daring to leave me long 
enough to go home after horses and car- 
riage, he stood helpless at my side until a 
gentleman stepped forward and suggested 
that, as I was thoroughly wet, I had better 
walk home, anyway. 

Long before we reached home I had to 
avail myself of the assistance of my faithful 
boy. My nervous excitement having 
waned, physical distress, aggravated by my 
not having tasted a morsel of food that day, 
was added to my mental distress and terror. 
It was night when I entered my own gate. 
My poor children and servants, who had 
been in an agony of suspense since morn- 
ing, alarmed at my appearance, conducted 
me to my room. There Lucy administered 
the true Southern panacea — a cup of 
strong coffee. 

Two days afterward I opened my eyes 
upon her face, anxiously waiting for me to 
recover consciousness. I was too weak to 
speak In answer to my inquiring looks 
she related to me that I had lain uncon- 
scious during all that time: that she had 
called a physician, who had insisted upon 
perfect quiet, telliDg her that they must 
not allow anything to arouse me suddenly 
from that lethargy which had seemed like 
death to her; as, in that absolute repose, 
was my only chance of retaining reason. A 
couple of days more and my brain was 
clear. Physical strength was lacking, but 
this was soon remedied by good care and 
attention. 



CHAPTER II. 

FAREWELL TO HOME 

One afternoon the clergyman of our 
church — the same we had listened to at 
camp — came in. He then gave me the ex- 
planation of the sudden movement of the 
troops. Brigadier-General Lovell really 
wished to make a stand below the city, but 
upon consulting with the civil authorities 
he found they represented so much foreign 
element in the population that he was over- 
ruled. It was finally decided not to surren- 
der the city, but simply to withdraw the 
Confederate troops. In this he bad com- 
plied with their wishes, therefore the hasty 



12 



movement. He further informed me that 
the city was being patrolled by the German 
and French troops, to keep order and pre- 
vent demoralization amongst the ruder por- 
tion of the populace. The Federal fleet 
lay in front of the city. None of the troops 
had disembarked, owing to a discussion 
which had arisen between Commodore Far- 
ragut arid the Mayor as to the proper mode 
of transferring the authority from the city 
to Federal rule Commodore Farragut in- 
sisted upon the flag which was flying being 
hauled down and a formal surrender made 
to him. This the Mayor refused, as the flag 
that was flying was a State flag. There were 
no Confederate troops in the city, and all 
the Federalists had to do was to march in 
and take possession. On the morning of 
the day of which I am speaking, Commo- 
dore Farragut had threatened to bombard 
the city if things did not proceed according 
to bis wishes. The Rev. Mr Fulton had 
called to say that he feared rumors of this 
threat would reach me and alarm me. But, 
in such an event, time would be given to 
remove the helpless portion of community, 
and he had already procured a large house, 
above Carrolton, for such of his people as 
needed his assistance, in which class he in- 
cluded my family. By night, however, we 
were told that, owing to the number of 
English, French and German residents scat- 
tered throughout the city, there was hardly 
a point which wus not defended by a foreign 
flag. 

A couple of days intervened of absolute 
quiet in our part of the city. The Federal 
troops disembarked, but did uot spread 
throughout the city. The gunbnats were 
gradually extending up the river. Each 
day a train was run to the depot upon the 
Jackson and Mississippi railroad from the 
country. This depot was crowded with 
women and children whose husbands and 
fathers had gone out with the troops. Each 
train brought in a few gentlemen, who, up- 
on reaching their destination, had decided 
upon returning and doffing the Confederate 
uniform to await the coming events. 

About the sixth evening after the depart- 
ure of the troops, and between nine and ten 
o'clock at night, a ring at the gate startled 



me so much that I accompanied the servant 
to the gate. Immediately upon opening it 
a gentleman entered, hastily closing the gate 
behind him and turning the key. Owing to 
his plain country dress I did not recognize 
him until the light from the house fell full 
upon his face. He had a letter for me from 
my darling husband. It seems, now, as if 
no joy I have ever experienced equalled 
that with which I received his first message! 
I imagine that a reprieve from death must 
seem like it! He explained that he, the 
bearer of this message, with others, was de- 
tailed to come in on the trains and prepare 
the guna and ammunition belonging to the 
troops for transportation. At dark they 
were taken to the depot, hastily put upon 
cars, and transported to the camp, which 
was situated about five miles from Magnolia, 
on the Mississippi railroad. This, he ex- ( 
plained, was easily accomplished, as the 
Federalists had not as yet spread themselves 
over the city. The easy entrance afforded 
them had evidently made them a little cau- 
tious. My husband wrote me that he had 
fully decided upon casting his lot with the 
Confederaey, and was sorry that he had not 
had me removed from the citv. As it was 
not likely that any communication would 
be allowed between New Orleans and the 
Confederacy he was virtually consigning us 
to a separation that would exist during the 
continuance of the war. He had heard that 
ladies and children were besieging the depot 
to catch an opportunity of leaving the city, 
and it might be possible for me to succeed 
in coming in that manner to him; but, on 
no account to start out into the country 
without nay own and the children's ward- 
robe and all other necessaries I could man- 
age to bring. 

Our friend made his stay as short as pos- 
sible, as any moment might bring him into 
danger. He left, saying that he would call 
the next night for an answer to my hus- 
band's letter. 

That night was a sleepless one to me. 
Plan after plan revolved in my mind in re- 
lation to quitting my home, i had four 
young children. I should leave a comfort- 
able home, stocked with every necessary 
article and many luxuries. My store 



13 



room had solid provisions and groceries 
enough to last at least six months. On the 
other hand was the to me unknown country. 
The country in the South has not every few 
miles a thrifty village with its reliable 
stores, but, at its best, has only a clearing 
in some woods with a few straggling board 
houses, and, for a store, a shanty filled with 
a little of everything, but more tobacco and 
whisky. Now, however, the chances were 
that nothing would be found in them. 
Could I, though, decide upon a separation 
.rom my husband? Would we ever see one 
another again? Might not death— here my 
feelings gave way! That thought, that hor- 
rid word decided me! There were no pros 
and cons after that. When morning came 
my plans were laid. 

As soon as I thought it probable to find 
my friends stirring I sent for two friends of 
my husband, to consult with them as to the 
ibjest means to employ in carrying out these 
pllans. They came at my summons, looked 
n;rave, and both declared me wild to think 
(jit exchanging a home for roaming over the 
ZJonfederac)', houseless and homeless, with 
our small children. They showed me most 
learly the deprivations we would bave to 
ndergo, and made me fee! that our pres- 
ence migbt increase the anxiety of a bus- 
band and father. I assented to all their 
objections, as they were founded upon good 
sense, but I stood firm to my resolution of 
trying to go. 

Finding me immovable they, with as good 
(grace as possible, offered their assistance in 
carrying out my wishes. At this juncture 
ithe servant I had already despatcbed to 
reconnoiter the depot returned. He report- 
ed more families at the depot awaiting 
(transportation than could be tafcen; but, 
^what was more discouraging still, he 
brought me a copy of an order from the 
Superintendent of the railroad to the effect 
, that no baggage would be allowed, not even 
a small trunk. Then, indeed, I met real 
I opposition. But I only replied, "Go I will!" 
For by that time my excited brain and 
lerves had pictured every known evil that 
«var could bring between my darling and 
<jnyself. I think three days of such warring 
hi good sense and strong resolve— resolve 



made strong by love — would have made me 
capable of leaving even tbose little ones for 
the greater love I bore their father. I 
busied myself that day and night packing 
trunks, and the next morning found me 
with seven large trunks filled and ready for 
flitting. 

My cook I had put at baking breadstuffs 
and boiling meat. My dining room boy 
was filling a basket with bottles of wine and 
boxes of guava jelly. That night our friend 
ran the risk again of bringing me another 
letter from my husband, in which he im- 
plored me to come out, but said that I must 
trust to my own mother wit, for the trains 
were to stop running the next day. Our 
friend told me, however, that the next night 
a train consisting of two cars and an engine 
would run as far down as Kenner. Kenner 
is a small, hamlet-like village about twelve 
miles up the river. So that night I resolved 
to reach Kenner early the next day. But it 
proved true that "L'homme propose, mais 
Dieu dispose." 

Early the next morning the two gentle- 
men made their appearance to inform me 
that the last train had been run down the 
day before, that the Federalists had or 
would take possession of the depot that day, 
that the engines and rolling stock had by 
that time been run off into the country, ex- 
cept a few freight cars, by the engine com- 
ing in at night, the same engine by which 
our friend brought me my letters. Also, 
that some smaller gunboats had been put 
upon Lake Pontchartrain, which would take 
possession of Pass Manchac — thus shutting 
off communication with the country on that 
side. As I dared not tell the source of my 
information I could only ask them to assist 
me a little, promising that if my schemes 
failed this time I would be reasonable and 
give up my, to them, wild projects. To one 
I gave all tbe money I had in my possession, 
asking him to get it changed into gold. To 
the other I said, "Please engage, at any 
price, a carriage and a delivery wagon to 
take us to Kenner." 
"To Kenner! For what purpose?" 
"Tbat I cannot tell," said I, "but I will 
go to Kenner today. I will be ready at 
twelve." 







" 



They left the house, thinking that of all 
willful women I was the most so. At twelve 
I sat with my hat on my he«d ready to start, 
when my dear friend, Rev. Mr. Fulton, 
came in with satchel in hand, saying, "My 
dear madame, I have heard of your mad re- 
solve and should have been here sooner, but 
I waited, it being Friday, to procure a sub- 
stitute for my pulpit, for I shall remain with 
you until I see you safe on your way to join 
the Major or back in your own house. I 
thought I might not be able to return before 
the Sabbath." I could not, speak, could only 
gaze at him with thankful eyes. The two 
gentlemen to whom I had entrusted my 
commissions just then appeared at the gate. 

I rushed to open it myself "Where is 
the carriage?" I asked. "You had better 
ask after your money, that is of more con- 
sequence." 

But I would not be put off. They had 
turned the money into gold, as that might 
prove wise in any event; but, having con- 
sulted with my husband's business friends, 
they had become fully convinced it was a 
mad scheme, concocted in a mad woman's 
brain, for if I succeeded in getting to Ken- 
ner what good would that do? For I could 
get no farther. 

Only for a moment did despair seize me! 
Then I said firmly. "Gentlemen, mad or 
sane, I shall go! If you will not do me the 
favor to arrange for teams I shall go into 
the city and arrange for myself!" 

Mr. Fulton then spoke and said: "Let 
her go. Make it as easy for her as you can. 
I will not leave her until she is safe some- 
where." , 

As it was then nearly one o'clock it 

would be at least four before arrangements 
could be completed. For the first time 
since I saw the depolate square of Magazine 
street, I laughed as I ordered fire started in 
the kitchen and coffee made; saying gayly, 
•'Bid a long farewell to the old stove, Lucy 
for you will not build a fire in it a«ain, 
soon — perhaps never!" 

At four my carriage came. Then, in a 
few minutes, a baggage wagon drove up. 
The driver, however, insisted upon feeding 
his mules before starting; which would take 
an hour at least; as he had some distance to 



go before reaching his barns. So he left, 
agreeing to be back as soon as possible. 

We sat ourselves down to wait for him; 
when a loud noise in the street caused us to 
step through the window. Behold! A 
wagon load of bricks had run against the 
carriage waiting at the door and taken one 
of the hind wheels completely off. 

A chorus of voices at once arose, "Every- 
thing conspires against you! Surely, you 
will yield now and give up going!" 

It seemed to me, however, that a new de- 
termination arose within me that I would 
not be beaten. Stepping out to the car- 
riage, I eaid: "It is now half past four. 
How soon can you return with another car- 
riage?" 

"I cannot be back before six o'clock, try 
as hard as I please." He then added: 
"Madame, at Carrolton there is stationed 1 a 
gun boat. Yesterday I tried to take some 
ladies past there on their way to Kenne*\ 
The officer in command of a squad of mel«i 
patrolling there turned them back, althougl 
the ladies cried and entreated. I brough 
them back and lhey are still in the city." 

Not one moment did I hesitate; but said 
Never mind : I may have better luck." 

I do not think I uttered a word upon re 
turning to the house until the baggage* 
wagon drove up to the door a few minutes! 
after five Then I ordered all the trunks) 
put in. Finding spire room in the wagon 
opened the store room and had an unopened) 
barrel of flour and some blankets and pil-i 
lows added to the load. Then I sat downj 
and gazed at the wagon with feelings akin 
to despair! I seemed to hear the ticking of, 
the French clock on the mantel yet, as it 
counted out the seconds! When Lucy said,j 
"Miss Francie, it is six o'clock!" 1. 
stamped my foot at her; but said not a, 
word. Exactly at five minutes past six the^ 
carriage came in sight. By the time it] 
reached the house I had babies, servants 
and all out on the walk; whilst a friend ., 
locked the door of the house. 

In leaving that house I left il and its conl. 
tents for ever! I never saw them again 
All became the property of some one — n( 
one can tell who. A crowd of idlers, ai 
well as friends, had gathered to see us off 



0) 



15 



Upon reaching Carrollton I found the 
officer of the day standing by the side of 
the baggage wagon which had preceded us 
about fifteen minutes. On the river lay the 
first gun boat I ever saw: grim, black and 
defiant it looked. As we reached the of- 
ficer, Mr. Fulton explained to him that the 
baggage belonged to the lady: that he him- 
self was a clergyman who wished to return 
i,o the city as soon as he had seen the mad 
ame and her children safe. 

A moment of dreadful uncertainty ! Then 
a manly face appeared at the window of 
the carriage. A hand raised the fatigue 
cap and a pleasant voice said, "Do not be 
alarmed, madame! I only wish to speak to 
your servants. Do you go with this lady 
voluntarily?" 

A trembling "Yes" was heard. Then, he 
! ;*aid, "God speed you all: drive on, 
driver!" 

This was not the last time I spoke to a 

Yankee officer; but I did not find them all 

10 courteous. However, I never exper- 

enced absolute rudeness, nor ill treatment. 

That starlight drive along the river bank, 

with the southern breeze which, at that 

lime of year, sweeps at twilight over the 

« sountry, had a soothing effect. It was 

3 lard to realize that I might be a wanderer 

ton the face of the earth for an indefinite 

jeriod of time. 

We had driven about two hours when 
1 he shriek of a locomotive was heard. In 
i second the command was given for the 
carriage to hasten on. The driver of the 
baggage wagon was to make all possible 
3peed. His mules had been worked all day, 
be said, and they could not hasten ; but he 
would do the best he could. 

The carriage hastened forward. We 

reached Kenner, and there found a crowd 

of men who had come down on the train, 

resolved to go into the city to ascertain the 

fate of the city and their loved ones, truet- 

□g to get out again in some way. 

Upon appealing to the conductor he de- 

ilared that he could wait only fifteen min- 

tes for my trunks; that his orders were 

eremptory to make no delay in returning 

cross tbe pass; for smoke had been seen 

sing from the lake: that a gun boat might 



reach there before he did ; and in capturing 
the engine hat he was running the rail- 
road would virtually fall into the hands of 
the Federalists. 

I deposited the children and nurses in the 
empty car and paced the ground. The 
engineer holding his watch in his hand to 
count the minutes. Never were tnere min- 
utes so short ! As the snap of the watch-case 
fell upon my ear I sprang forward to im- 
plore him for a few minutes more, when 
the rumbling of wheels was heard. My 
baggage comes! Whilst they are throwing 
my trunks into a car I put into Mr. Fulton's 
hands the one hundred dollars in gold to 
pay for the teams and bade him adieu ! He 
had fulfilled his promise. He had seen me 
safely started on the road to join my hus- 
band! Honorable gentleman — true friend 
— devoted christian! I have never seen him 
since. 

A shriek trom the locomotive, a cheer 
from the crowd and we plunged into the 
darkness! 

Whilst the servants made their charges 
comfortable with food; then making them 
beds on the seats with the pillows and blank- 
ets I had brought, the conductor explained 
to me that I must not be frightened at the 
speed with which he should be obliged* to 
run his train in order to make up the time 
lost in waiting for my trunks. Then he 
left me and mine alone: alone on the train, 
save the conductor engineer and fireman. 



CHAPTER III. 

PASS MANCHAC. 

Miles ahead of us was Pass Manchac. 
This was a draw-bridge across an arm of 
Lake Ponchartrain. The water looks so 
peaceful, lying still under the starlight as if 
asleep. Does it seem possible that on one 
side of it is approaching one of those deadly 
monsters, a gunboat, while on the other 
side is a more frightful appearing object, but 
not so formidable, an engine and car con- 
taining children, servants, and an anxious 
mother, in the care of men sworn to cross 
that Pass with that engine safe or sink it in 
the lake? 

As I sit with ray face pressed against the 



car window, looking into the darkness of 
the night, only a sense of exultation fills 
my heart. The tall beams of the draw 
bridge reared themselves like watchmen set 
by the forest to guard its domains. To- 
night, on the far side of the bridge, there is 
a low murmur of voices and an occasional 
gleam of stetl. A quick and guarded move- 
ment, followed by a cautious hist, as a 
sound reached their ea^s. It comes nearer! 
and the last train rua by the Confederacy 
from New Orlears thunders over the bridge 
greeted with loud hurrahs. A few moments 
more and the swirr of the axes, the clank- 
ing of chains, the splashing of the water as 
the beams fall into it, and Pass Manchac 
bridge is destroyed, and 1 am in the Con- 
federacy. 

Wiih kindly words to me, and wondering 
ones to each other, in regard to the "plucky 
woman," the men who destroyed the bridge 
took tbeir seats in the car, and the train 
moves on, more slowly now, as the need of 
such great haste is over. In about, au hour 
we make another halt. I look out with 
curiosity. On one side the blackness of the 
swamp, intensified by the dense orest trees 
covered with hanging moss and its low 
cypress knees, on the other a clearing with 
a house a little way back. Its windows 
were all alive with the cheerful glow of the 
pine knot burning on its hearth. By this 
glow 1 discover outside, lying down, sitting 
and louDging against the trees, gray figures. 
The air is filled with the odor, not of the 
far famed orange and magnolia, but with the 
more prosaic smell of fried bacon and 
Bteaming coffee The conductor came in 
to tell me that he should lay by here until 
daybreak. He advised me to remain in the 
car all night, as the house was not really as 
comfortable as the car. 

Declining the supper of bacon and corn 
bread offered, I accepted with thankfulness 
the tin cup handed me filled with coffee 
hot and strong With a grateful heart I 
laid my weary head upon the car seat and 
fell asleep. Asleep, locked in a car stand 
ing in a swamp, with no one around me but 
soldiers! In the hearts of those men, un- 
cultivated though some of them undoubt 
edly were, were the instincts of true man- 



hood. Not once during that night, although 
their merriment at times rose to a wild 
height, akin to revelry, did one of them 
approach the car to disturb our slumbers. 

CHAPTER IV 

IN CAMP. 

A short ride m the clear morning si| 
shine brings us to camp, where we 
received with loud cheers, for much anxi 
had been felt for the safety of the tra 
Amidst those who thronged around the c 
I soon discovered the face of my husbai 
Evidently, by his sober appearance, he i 
not expect to find his loved ones tbei 
How soon those looks brightened as 
heard the cry "Papa, papa! Here we J 
are! Mama, Lucy,— and we have brou: 
the baby, too, — to camp out!" We w 
soon installed in what was to be our h<f 
tor some time — tents. 

This was real camp life. And it o{ 
occurs tome, when I see the pleasure seel 
of to-day camping out, that perhaps if t 
had tried the real camp life, they like my 
would think of it with a shudder ineteai 
pleasure 

The camp was located in the woods, v 
only one farm house near. The countr 
the Southern States is very different fr 
the country of the North. The houses ar 
at a great distance from each other, an 
thi3 was the only house within a distance o 
six miles. 

I had three tents at my disposal — two fo 
sleeping purposes, and the other for my sit} 
ting room. They had floors made by layin 
down a few planks. Upon these was spreac* 
a large quantity of pine bows. These bows' 
were covered with army blankets and form 
ed our beds. A couple of stools, and pile 
of shawls and clothing thrown down t 
lounge upon, furnished our sitting-room 

In front of the tents, and against the sid— 
of a stump, was built a fire, which wa 
never allowed to go out. At night thd 
negroes slept near this, and kept it replei/ 
ished, to drive the mosquitoes away. Foi 
tunately my good, thoughtful Lucy ha 
taken down and put with her clothes a larg 
bed net, which was soon fastened up ovc^ 



17 



the children's pine bows to protect them. 

We lived on camp fare— coffee without 

milk, bread and bacon. The farm house 

did let me have a little milk for my baby, 

u but, without robbing themselves, they could 

dc not let us have anything more. 

fie We were very happy there. My children 

b? were the pets of the camp. The men who 

se longed for the sight of their own wives and 

to little ones soon found pleasure in calling 

an upon us and telling of incidents in their 

jOwn home life to the only family amongst 

a xthem. 

lh< I ate on, and drank from, tin. The homely 

ca fare and tinware were brightened by the 

a ]s;fact that we were together. Whilst here 

yo the news was brought that the dismembered 

vo brigade was to report to General Pember- 

,ton, at Jackson, to be assigned to duty at 

sapther points. I will mention here that this 

dri'pecial camp was retained, and some of the 

officers of the brigade were assigned to keep 

ifa'P the recruiting service. 

iO The vexed question then arose in my hus- 

ea)and's rnind as to what was to be done with 

ivife and babies whilst he reported himself. 

wit^he same night reaction from my excite- 

t ,ima ent 8et m an d I again became too ill to 

i jouvalk. 

3 ian The next day I was carried to the cars 
fay *nd- taken to the nearest town— Magnolia. 
J Here w-e found an unoccupied house owned 
\ as a surn^mer residence by a New Orleans 
« merchant^. We took possession . The fire 
J place in jthe kitchen and the necessary 
Y articles fo»r light housekeeping found there, 
made us muite comfortable, and I slowly 
; regained Jmy health, whilst my husband 
proceeded i to report at headquarters. 

Amongst our friends who returned to the 
city to lcjok after his family and personal 
interests^ was one who had been followed 
by a favorite negro boy — Tom. When his 
master tiok leave of my husband, this boy 
entreated to be left in camp with Mars 
Geoff, aihd, much to my pleasure, I found 
;hed to our service. The Colonel 
if the boy wished to remain out in 
federacy he was willing that he 
o so. 



him atta 
> thought 
1 the Con 
\ Bhould d 



tween th 



During the long and tedious interval be- 



is time and our return to New Or- 



leans, we were indebted to this boy for many 
a comfort. One day, whilst his mars Geoff 
was away, he came in from camp bringing 
a large English mastiff to the children. It 
was a welcome addition to our numbers, for 
it brought a feeling of security with it, very 
pleasant in those days of no law but one — 
''Might makes right." 

Here we rested about two months, wait- 
ing for orders from the General command- 
ing as to the disposition of the remainder 
of the brigade from New Orleans. 

At the expiration of that time it was 
decided that my husband, with a small por- 
tion of the men, should be trans erred to 
the Trans-Mississippi department. Upon 
reflection we decided that Magnolia, having 
been only a summer resort for the city peo- 
ple, with no com forts available for the rainy 
season which would be soon upon us, it 
would be advisable to loca'e the family be- 
fore his departure. Accordiagly we took 
the cars for Jackson. Here we remained at 
the hotel in great discomfort, whilst my 
husband searched for a temporary home for 
us. Our discomfort was caused by the in- 
adequacy of the town to supply accommo- 
dations and food for the number of refugees 
from New Orleans and Vicksburg who had 
thronged there, also by the number of sol- 
diers who were quartered there. Jackson 
was then the post where the General com- 
manding had his headquarters. 



CHAPTER V. 



BRAN DON 



An old county seat in the State of Missis- 
sippi was the pleasant village of Brandon, 
situated about twelve miles from Jackson, 
on the railroad leading to Meridian, Ala- 
bama, and thence to Mobile. 

Finding in this village a quiet hotel, and 
that the country was not then entirely eaten 
up by commissary demands, my husband 
determined on placing us there for awhile. 
So, once again on the move, we arrive at 
Brandon, sick and weary of heat, the bustle 
and confusion attendant upon traveling on 
a train so full as to have hardly standing 
room, and shopping nearly every half mile 
to put iff or receive passengers and pack- 



IS 



ages, as military requirements necessitated 

A few weeks there convinced us that a 
house must be found to remove the children 
and servants from the evils attending 
boarding at a hotel frequented by soldiers 
from military posts and from the hospital 
which was located there. 

One day Tom rushed in— "Miss Francie! 
Where is Mars Geoff? I done heard tell of 
a house to rent." 

"Yes, Tom; but is it furnished?" 

"Yes, Miss Francie; least ways the man 
says so." 

So that evening we went to see the house 
spoken of. We found the house situated in 
a clearing about a mile from the village. It 
consisted of three rooms and an outhouse. 

My Northern friends will think: "Surely, 
a comfortable house," unless they have 
been in the clearings of Mississippi and 
seen what some of the summer houses are. 

This was a frame house with board parti- 
tion walls. JNot even cloth drawn over the 
boards, as they were in my San Francisco 
experience of earlier days. A cheap paper 
had once covered them, but now that was 
cracked in each place where the boards met. 
In one room was a fire place. The outhouse 
was the kitchen. It was made of rough, 
unplaned boards. The cooking utensils 
consisted of an old rusty stove, two skillets 
and a drippiDg pan. 

The house was well shaded by trees. 
Across th« front ran a gallery, upon which 
two of the rooms opened. The furniture 
consisted of one small round table, four 
chairs and two old-fashioned bedsteads 
Upon each of these lay acorn husk matiress. 

After hiring this furnished hou e, we 
found for sale, in one of the stores of the 
village a few dishes; and in another some 
calico and cotton. This last i soon convert- 
ed into bedding, and commenced house 
keeping. 

After settling us in our new home my 
husband left us for the Trans Mississippi 
department to which ht> had been assigned. 
As Lucy had become homesick he took her 
away with him, to send her as far back as 
Magnolia, leaving me in the woods with one 
young negro girl, my faithful T^m, and 
last, but not least, our glorious mastiff. 



Now commenced the life of trial, toil and 
privation, which I look back upon with 
wonder that I am alive to day to tell the 
tale. 

Imagine a woman born and bred in a city, 
accustomed to all the comforts of life, in a 
house— no — with a rouf over her head sim- 
ply, with nothing but trees to be seen 
around her! Her nearest neighbors a quar- 
ter of a mile distant through the woods I 
Her only protectors a negro boy nineteen 
years old, a colored girl of twelve years, and 
a huge dog! Her only companions four 
small chiJdren— the eldest a boy but eight 
years old! 

Many happy wives of the present day 
may think, what a brute, to leave his wife 
in such a place! But thev do not know that 
a soldier has no duty that can be allowed to 
take precedence over obedienc -j to orders. 

There were no means of transportation 
for such delicate ware as a tender woman 
with still tenderer babies to the river and 
across it. 

Buying a few matches and candles, and 
locking them up to save them in case of 
sicknefs, I relied upon the famed pine knot 
for my light at night, and a pine torch held 
by Tom was my light with which to go over 
the place before retiring. 

There was once a Southern gentleman 
who boasted of a candlestick valued at five 
thousand dollars. Upon being called upon 
for a description, his friends found that his 
bed candle was a pine toich held ,by a valu- 
able negro. This was my condition; only, 
I don't think, that five times fivt: thousand 
dollars would have induced me Up part with 
"Our Tom." 

Our Tom 1 Who walked to the village 
for supplies; who, when the rain poured in 
torrents, and the mud was alrrfost knee 
deep, went to the village if there? was any 
reasonable expectation of a Jettc r frj-om Mars 
Geoff; who would go hoping, anol if those 
hopes became realized he would brreak into 
a run, as soon as he reached a poijnt where 
he could be seen from the houae.P waiving 
the letter above his head ! 

Faithful Tom! Who romped with the 
children; who found food and millk no mat- 
ter how far he had to walk ir.lt 1 > the sur- 



19 



rounding woods in search of a plantation ; 
■who found wood in the adjacent forests for 
culinary purposes, and pine knots sufficient 
for Miss Francie to keep burning all night, 
so she might not be afraid ! 

Kind, good Tom! Who cooked all our 
meals; who helped Callie Wash and iron our 
clothes— ruling that poor child with a rod 
of iron, for fear that his mistress should 
lack attention! 

Brave Tom ! Who watched three nights 
alone before he informed me that three men 
had walked past the house several times 
each night. As they had mad*; no efforts 
to enter the yard he thought he had no 
right to meddle with them; but he was sus- 
picious of them — all the more, because if 
he showed himself they walked away. 

At first I thought out little of this; but as 
night approached again his talk recurred to 
mv mind. I remembered the last time I 
was in the village, having walked up to the 
hotel to chat with the landlady, that she 
had laughingly told me of the reports in 
the village: that my large trunks contained 
a vast amount of silver plate and that I also 
owned elegant dresses and diamonds. She 
also told me that this report originated 
with my own servants. At the time of 
hearing this it made but little impression 
on my mind; as I knew that all servants 
laid great stress upon the wealth and stand- 
ing of "My white folks," and fully despised 
"Poor white trash." 

Sitting now with my baby on my lap, and 
the hateful twilight shadows darkening 
outside, the full siguificance of the fearful 
result which might follow this seemingly 
harmless vanify of my good boy dawned 
upon me. I bitterly regretted not trying to 
get some one to come down from the vil- 
lage to stay at night to, at least, make a 
show of force. 

It was now so late, however, that I dared 
not send anyone away from the house. 
Darkness came on, it seemed to me, with 
marvellous quickness that night. My cour- 
age must rise equal to the occasion and my 
H>lans be formed to meet any emergency. 
.4)Ls soon as the little ones were asleep I 
nailed my eldest son to me and told him 
what Tom had said. The pure blood in his 



little frame showed itself in the dilated eye, 
the small clenched fist and the straiffhten- 
ing to his full height as he exclaimed: "Go 
to bed and have no fears s mamma: Tom 
and I will take care of you and the chil- 
dren!" 

Kissing my little son and thanking him 
for his regard for my comfort, I told him 
what I wanted him to do and my proposed 
line of action. 

Letting Callie remain unawares of our 
fright, she was soon asleep on her pallet, by 
the side of the little ones' bed; whilst Tom 
patrolled the yard. I went to the door and 
gave him one of the pistols, bidding him to 
keep within the yard with the dog and 
shoot without mercy the first man who en- 
tered the gate! My brave little son I station- 
ed at the window with a rifle resting on the 
window sill with orders on no account to 
fire until I gave him the word: I stood be- 
hind him wiih a revolver in my hand; and 
thanked God that I had at my husband's re- 
quest, when in California, overcome a girl's 
natural horror of fire arms sufficiently, not 
only to fire off a pistol, but to be a tolerable 
marksman as well. 

Soon by the side of the window I heard 
the low growl of the dog, followed by Tom's 
low hist. A man's form was seen through 
the trees passing and repassing, but outside 
of the fence. Tom raised himself to the 
window ledge and whispered, "I am going 
to take the dog around the house. If you 
hear me firing on the other side do not 
leave the house nor this room!" 

Soon after Tom left the window two men 
appeared in the road, evidently consulting. 
I heard no noise from Tom I concluded 
that he had found watching, instead of act- 
ing, necessary. The men went away and 
returned three times; and I, as well as 
themselves, was waiting for their signal. I 
could think of no other reason for their de- 
lay. Soon the deep, sonorous baying of 
Major broke on my ear! But no pistol 
shots! The two men retrfated a few 
steps. They separated, then came together 
again and seemed to be consulting. Sud- 
denly a low whistle sounded and they were 
gone. A welcome sight was Tom appear- 
icg to report. He had seen the third man 



20 



on the other side of the house. He had 
kept even with him in his circuit around 
the place, with Major at his side. He had 
with difficulty kept the dog quiet — 'Conclud- 
ing that this man was the one appointed to 
reconnoiter; and, when all was ready, to 
give the signal to his comrades. A misstep 
and the breaking of a branch under this 
man's foot caused the barking of the dog; 
which was followed by the instantaneous 
disappearance of the man. He probably 
whistled to his comrades. 

Feeling that the danger was over for a 
couple of hours at any rate, and concluding 
from their extreme caution that thev did 
not intend murder unless forced to it for 
their own safety, I had Tom light a small 
pine knot. I called the dog into the house 
and sent my young knight to bed. 

In a few moments the light was out and 
Tom and myself were on the watch. We 
kept up our vigils until daylight with no 
further alarm. As soon as my overstrained 
nerves had recovered their tone sufficiently 
for me to think of being left by him, I sent 
Tom to the village to report to the officer 
in command of the hospital and ask his ad- 
vice. 

When Tom returned he informed me 
that the officer was comiog down to see 
me in ahe course of the afternoon: that the 
men were stragglers from the army; as in- 
quiry had beer made of him if stragglers 
had been seen. 

When the surgeon came he said that he 
did not think that I would be annoyed 
anymore — at least not by the same men ; 
for they had been inquired after so closely 
they had left on the noon train. Still, he 
said, it was not Sife for me to remain there 
any longer: that I must go to the hotel to 
sleep that night and move all my things the 
next day, to remain until my husband re 
turned. His principal errand, however, 
was to ask permission to vaccinate my little 
family; as he had some bad cases of small 
pox in the hospital. Just at that moment 
Tom came in, coughing violently; and as 
he had been coughing some days, I asked 
the surgeon to prescribe for him. Upon 
questioning him, the surgeon pronounced 
it a violent case of whooping cough. 



As T could not take a family of coughing 
children to a hotel I was obliged to remain 
where I was for a few weeks at least. Whilst 
waiting for them to recover I made such in- 
quiries as the circumstances permitted, for 
a place to go where I should not be exposed 
to tramps. 

Fortunately my husband came over the 
next week. He found me with both ser- 
vants too ill to wait on themselves and all 
the children miserably sick with vaccination 
and whoopiDg cough; whilst the care of 
everything, even to preparing wood and 
food for all, had devolved upon the older 
children and myself 

Never did I more fully appreciate the 
beauties of pine knots. As soon as the 
children were well enough we were trans- 
ported to a plantation about five miles from 
Brandon village, to board with a kind fam- 
ily, consisting of a widow lady, her two 
daughters and a niece. A log cabin was 
built expressly for me, containing one room 
with a little room partitioned off for Callie. 
Tom was to leave me to attach himself to J 
Mars Geoff's service. 

No one who has not been South can ap^ 
predate my one comfort. That was a fire-l 
place extending across one end of my cabin 1 
In cold weather a stout man toted in every 
morning part of the trunk of a tree, which 
he put in the fireplace for a b\ck log to my 
fire. In one corner, winter and summer 
evenings, were the pine knots. In front of 
the fire every evening, my large dog stretch-/ 
ed himself at full length for the four chiM 
dren to seat themselves upon him to toa6t 
their toes for a few minutes before retiring. 
He would lie there and blink as if he waa 
the happiest dog in existence. 

After Tom and his master had gone I 
suffered fearfully from loneliness. This 
was only relieved by riding on horse back 
to the village for news every night and 
morning without regard to the weather. 

In spite of my efforts to keep my energy 
and cheerfulness from flagging, after a few 
months I broke down. The smell of bacon 
and corn meal, or sweet potato coffee sick 
encd me; and I turned disgusted from m j i 
healthy boys to think that thev could eat 

It is said that a person will becom bc,i 



21 



hnngry they can eat anything. But I Droved 
the fallacy of this; for I ate nothing and 
did not become hungry. When I found 
that any little exertion brought on fearful 
fainting spells I called a physician, who 
said: "Sbe is dying for want of food; and 
she will soun die unless she can have things 
to eat more like her home fare." As the 
family were giving me the best they had 
this was an impossibility. My sense of 
duty led to an effort to procure at least 
tea and flour. Hearing that in Mobile I 
might be able to procure rice flour, if not 
wheat, I sent funds there to purchase such 
articles as could be found. 

After sending three times and not receiv- 
ing any returns, finding my funds running 
low and no news from my absent hus- 
band, I gave up all hope. As I kissed my 
two-weeks-old baby boy, as ne lay in his lit- 
tle coffin it was with the full knowledge 
that only a few days could elapse before I 
joined him. "Slow starvation 1" "Try to 
eat!" I smiled as I thought of poor Mrs. 
Dombey who "Would not make an effort,;" 
but I turned so sick at the thought of eat- 
ing that those around me were convinced 
of the impossibility of an "effort." 

That same night as I lay trying to form 
jBome plan for the future of my children, 
[the clock that my hostess had put into my 
room to help soothe the wakeful hours, 
struck one. Only a few hours more and 
|.hey whose soft breathings fell on my ear 
would be orphans! I listlessly looked 
Around the room which the light of the pine 
knot revealed to my eyes but dimly through 
the mosquito bar. The walls of my cabin 
were decorated with such articles as the 
^ children and their nurse could make from 
^ihe rude material around us. 

j At the head of my bed asleep in her chair, 
Sfit one of the young ladies of the house. 
4'k.cross the foot of the bed lay my Clevvie, 
rmy nine year old boy, with his head lying 
Gin his arm, still sobbing in his sleep 
B(| On a little table beyond lay the little 
Cloffin with my baby in it Are my senses 
dljeceiving me! Or is it really the slow tread 
0}]t a h rse that I hear coming through the 
Mijoods towards the house! If it is a horse 
ill must be before my own coffin; for it is a 



funeral tread! Slowly, but surely, it ap- 
proaches nearer and nearer. As my cabm 
is the first for it to reach, soon I hear it at 
my own door! A sudden flash like electric- 
ity goes through my veins! A.nd I who for 
weeks had not raised my head from my pil- 
low, sprang from the bed and rushed out 
into the night! My attendants thinking me 
crazed, followed, only to find me appar- 
ently dead, lying in my husband's arms. 

If it had not been for the light from the 
open door which fell strong upon the group, 
it is doubtful if any of them would have 
dared to approach ; for the blackness of the 
woods behind, the spectral light of the 
stars overhead, the gigantic black horse 
with his master beside him, holding a 
white robed corpse in his arms, made an 
apparition well calculated to awe the stout- 
est heart! For the avenge Southern per- 
son and their dusky attendants are by no 
means devoid of superstition. 

It wan indeed Mars Geoff, who bad been 
sent with dispatches to Jackson, the then 
headquarters of General Pemberton. He 
had come from the Trans Mississippi de- 
partment. After crossing the river he had 
ridcien day and night so as to save a few 
moments from duty to see his family ; as 
his orders demanded his immediate return. 

Finding his horse too jaded to go farther 
he bad purposed remainvug at the village 
over night; but being told there that his 
wife was dead, his good and faithful heart 
had brought him the rest of the way, walk- 
ing all the way and leading his tired horse. 

Then followed a few days of delicious 
rest, in which I lay conscious only of his 
presence. When I lay with closed eyes, 
feeling him near; or with eyelids languidly 
raised, I looked upon his dear face, children, 
all my cares and sorrows were alike forgotten ! 

At the risk of a court martial he sent an 
aid from Jackson back with the answering 
dispatches; whilst he waited for life to re- 
turn to mtt. This was slowly but surely 
accomplished; for his presence aided the 
nourishing food which his energy supplied. 
He put money into the hands of a reliable 
persou to go to Mobile to purchase flour, 
tea, all and everything to be found; and to 
stand guard over them until delivered. 



CHAPTER VI. 

IS IT FOREVER ! 

For three weeks my husband staid away 
from his military duties nursing me into 
life, and directing the children, poor babies, 
as to the way mamma was to be cared for af- 
ter his departure. During that time he 
found a plantation, where they had raised 
some wheat, which they made into flour by 
grinding it in the same mill in which they 
ground tbeir corn. This was flour unbolted 
and coarse, but wholesome. There he 
found board for us; but we had only one 
room for us all. They agreed to have wheat 
bread and tea for one meal each day. At 
the expiration of three weeks, we heard of 
the impending tall of Vicksburg; and my 
husband, having moved his helpless family 
to this plantation, reported at Jackson and 
left me again alone. Is it forever! 

Northern women! Wonder not when 
you are exclaiming and expatiating upon 
the misery you endured during the war, 
that a Southern wife and mother turns with 
a smile from you and says, "You know 
nothing about it!" 

You were left in comfortable homes, with 
sympathizing relatives and neighbors 
around you. You received almost daily 
news from the front. You were in tele- 
graphic communications with the army; 
whilst I — well, I will try in my feeble way 
to describe my situation. 

Imagine a < me -story house of three rooms, 
with a gallery all around it: a yard of about 
three acres fenced in, with the necessary 
gates for driving or walking. Back of this 
house, the smoke house, store room anc 
loom room, (for on nearly all plantations, 
the coarse cloth and bedding were woven 
on the place,) and carriage house. Outside 
of the fence and in rear of the house, 
stretching back for at least half a mile, was 
a road lined with low, whitewashed cabins 
on either side, with their chicken houses 
and gardens in the rear. At the head of 
this street was the overseer's house, then 
empty, for he had gone to the war Stand- 
ing on the front gallery, nnd looking be 
yond the fence, a dense forest of trees ap- 
peared with two roads cut in different di- 
rections, just wide enough for the passage 



of a carriage. In other directions were 
paths which were used by horse back riders; 
as on horeback, one could go through diff- 
erent plantations, thus shortening a little 
the nine miles to Brandon, which was the 
nearest village to us. Carriages were 
obliged to drive three miles through the 
plantation from the hous<? to the main road. 

Standing upon the back gallery, the eye 
rested upon an immense peach orchard, 
corn and cotton fields, in their turn also 
shut in by the forest. Our nearest physician 
and clergyman were at the village, and the 
nearest neighbor, four miles through the 
woods, and six miles by the road. 

My husband had to ride seventy-five 
miles before reaching the Mississippi River; 
then, cross that river in the night— the 
blacker the night the better — in a canoe 
rowed by a negro, to whose faithfulness he 
must trust his life and liberty. His horse, 
swimming behind the canoe, led by a halter 
held in his band After reaching the other 
side, he had a ride of a hundred miles be- 
fore reaching his troops; and, perhaps, a 
court martial awaiting nim there, for his 
delinquency in the matter of the dispatches. 
As communication was only accidental, we 
had never heard whether the return dis- 
patches, for which he was responsible, had 
ever reached their destination; and he him- 1 
self, absent from duty for three weeks with- 
out leave! For a much less offense many a 
many had been considered a deserter, and 
shot. 

Tnink of the next three months spent 1 
this solitude! My gnly relief from despai 
was, that every other day I rode th 
nine miles through the woods to Brandon 
to ask for news and find none. 

Can you imagine the faint hope wit 
which each day I would 6et out? Wbic 
hope would, on a fine day, become quite ii 
spired by reason of the energy which 
brisk gallop would infuse into my veins 
and then, the drooping head with which 
left the town behind me! And with m 
eyes filled with tears, was carried back b 
my then ungided horse to my shelter! 

Can you imagine the feelings with whic 
we listened to the muffle booming of ti 
cannon at Vicksburtr? Knowing that 



23 



held the key to the unlocking of the Missis- 
sippi to our enemies! 

Vicksburg fell ! Soon after the firing at 
Jackson ceased, and my rides were put an 
end to; for the woods were filled with run- 
away Degroes, and deserters from the army. 

Then I met with the only Southern cow- 
ard I ever met, in the person of my host. 
He announced his determination to avow 
himself a Yankee in sentiment, in order to 
save himself from the Union Army, which 
was reported to be en route from Jackson 
to Brandon. 

My board was paid for six months in ad- 
vance, for myself and children, one servant, 
my horse and pony. He told me that, as 
my effects would not be safe, and as he 
would not afford me any protection, (For in 
so doing be would compromise himself with 
the Federalists,) I must leave his place. He 
would take me to a cotton landing on the 
Mobile road, and put me aboard a train for 
Mobile. My horses he would keep as his 
own, until I could safely return and claim 
them. 

He so worked upon my fears for myself 
and children, if we should fall into the 
hands of the Federal soldiery, that after a 
few days of argument, I consented to go. 

The cotton depot was in the midst of 
dense woods. It was merely an immense 
shed for the storing of cotton waiting for 
'transportation. Not a house was to 
be seen. He and his driver staid with me. 
mtil a train of open cars came along On 
one of these open cars a few wounded sol- 
diers were lying. A few stools were there; 
and I was placed on that car, 

I rode that afternoon only a few miles; 
ithen stopped at a small town to wait for a 
Wain to start for Meridian. At dark I en- 
ered a car filled with soldiers, most of them 
pounded : some of them terribly so. I was 
.be only woman to be seen anywhere; and 
jnany were the wondering looks and ques- 
tions I received; but I satisfied no one's 
juriosiiy. 

j With my babies I rode all that night in 
Hat car. Not a ray of light but once, 
hen the conductor came in wilh his lan- 
3rn to inspect tickets. Then he went out, 
jcking the car door. Oh, the agony of 



that long night! Locked in the car with 
wounded and dying soldiers, who, although 
mad with their own sufferings, suppressed 
their oaths, because "Ed, there is a lady 
somewhere here, shut up in this cursed 
darkness with us!" 

I heard exclamations of pity, when the 
suppressed crying of my frightened chil- 
dren became audible over the confusion in- 
side, and the fearful howling of the wind 
and rain without; for even God seemed to 
have forgotten to be kind, and allowed 
nature to arouse herself in one of her mad- 
dest and wildest fits of anger! 

At last a poor fellow laid himself down 
on the floor by my seat, saying "Good bye, 
boy^! God bless the Confederacy!" and 
died. 

For about an hour after that, silence 
reigned. Only whisperings were heard 
amongst the men My babies fell asleep; 
whilst my poor little darkey girl slid down 
to the floor at my feet, pillowing her head 
on one oi them and also slept. 

In that still hour my resolve was taken. 
When, with a slight ray of daylight appear- 
ing, the cars stopped and the conductor 
opened the door, announcing our arrival at 
Meridian, I only waited for the soldiers to 
be removed with their dead companion, to 
ascertain the best and quickest method of 
realizing that resolution. 

After the train was cleared of soldiery, 
the conductor returned to ascertoin my des- 
tination : announcing the fact that this train 
would not proceed any farther; bin would, 
in about an hour, return to the place that 
we had started from the night previous. 

His astonishment was great when he 
found that I intended returning on the same 
train. At first he almost insisted on my 
leaving the car — so absurd did it seem to 
him that I should go immediately back; for 
certainly I could not have taken that trip 
for pleasure. I vouchsafed no explanation, 
and parried all his inquiries as to who I was, 
or where I belonged. 

At last, seeirig that my determination re- 
mained UDshaken, he piloted me out to a 
freight car in which were my trunks By 
the way, when my host left me at the cotton 
depot, he had the assurance to boast of his 



24 



magnamimity in allowing me to take ray- 
baggage; as his duty, as a good Unionist, 
would have required him to confiscate it; 
but his kindness of heart would not allow 
him to despoil a woman! Such are the in- 
fluences of war! After much parleying, and 
many side talks between the conductor and 
the baggage man, leaving me standing in 
the dark, (For daylight was as yet scarcely 
visible; and they carried their lanterns with 
them during the conference,) they consen- 
ted to lock up the car for the night, leaving 
my trunks in it; disclaiming all responsibil- 
ity, however, if during the interval of 
waiting, the car was broken into and my 
baggage taken. 

Their hesitation in acceding to my wishes, 
and the sinister, villaitfenis look that the 
lantern gave to their countenances, led me 
to fear that I would never see my trunks 
again; and that possibly they themselves 
would- be the gainers. The Conductor 
lighted me back to the car in which I had 
left the children. I had left, in their charge 
the shawls and wrappings, with strict or- 
ders to let no fear, curiosity, or above all to 
let no person entice thersa.even to the door. 
I found them safe. The conductor left us, 
utterly refusing to let me have a key to one 
door. 

Mow welcome was the daylight! Not 
only to myself, but to the weary children 
who, however, with the enviable fatality of 
childhood, had eDjoyed a game of hi^e and 
seek among the seats. When the conduc- 
tor unlocked the doors, I went out and at- 
tended to my bsggage; which, very much 
to my surprise, I found all safe. 

We were s<>on on our way back, reaching 
our destination about noon. Here I re- 
mained nnt.il nearly night; when a train of 
open cars was dispatched to haul away the 
cotton remaining in the shed I climbed up 
on one of those cars, sitting on a trunk, un- 
til we reached the shed. Then, the sol liers 
in charge of the train requested me to alight, 
as they wished to load up the cotton ; at the 
same time advising me to send up to the 
Confederate camp, about a mile away, es- 
tablished there that morning, for a*isisKnce 
in getting back to the plantation I had left, 
the previous morning. I had determined 



upon reaching that place even if I had to 
walk. 

Whilst waiting for an answer to my re- 
quest from camp, and old countryman rode 
down a path from the woods, and, for the 
first time, I saw a genuine specimen of what 
the negroes call "Poor white trash." By 
this time my trunks were upon the ground, 
and wo were standing around them. Tying 
his old horse to a tree, he walked around 
and around us. Finally he opened his 
mouth, and emptied it of an enormous quid 
of tobacco. Then a stream of questions 
poured forth. He out-yankeed a Yankee, 
in that species of torture. 

There was no use. No amount of reserve 
dignity could withstand it. He soon under- 
stood the whole situation. When I men- 
tioned the planter's name who sent me 
adrift, he said, "I know him— a mighty 
mean man!" 

After hearing my story, told amidst the 
noise of soldiers loading cotton, the letting 
off of steam, he cooly looked at ihe sky al- 
ready darkened with the shades of night, 
(For we have no lone: twilight in Louisiana 
and Mississippi,) then said, "Can you ride 
on horseback?" Upon my replying in the 
affirmative, he proposed that I take my 
youngest child before me on his saddle, 
ride to his home three miles distant up in.' 
the woods, and send his boys with the ox. 
team back for my remaining children, him- 
self and my things. He would remain with 
the children until his boys arrived. 

It was already so dark that the forest be- j 
hind us looked black. The engine was get-j 
ting up steam preparatory to leaving. . 
What better could I do? Still, to leave * 
.those precious little ones at the mercy ofi 
that old crazy looking man ! But, my owW 
brave boy spoke up, "Nevermind us, maml- 
roa! This kind gentleman will not leav 
us!" 

The old man's face fairly beamed! "Thar. 
I won't, my little man! And your mothe(r 
will be a brave woman to ride through the 
woods alone. But the old horse wts. 
on the place, and knows the way, and is ajs 
sure-footed a beast, as ever growed." 1 

Think you that I had no fear as I entered 
that dark path, through an unknown cou 



25 



try, on a strange horse, sitting on a man's 
saddle with my baby upon my lap? 

The old horse stepped along so surely and 
firmly that, after a time, I gained courage 
to glance up through the trees at the stars; 
when suddenly I was startled by a soldier in 
uniform, musket in hand, standing in my 
path. After a few questions he remarked, 
"GoonI Old Stebbins's horse is a guaran- 
tee that all is right." 

Three several times, before I reached the 
old man's cabin, I was stopped and ques- 
tioned by scouts; and each time the horse 
was recognized and accepted as my en- 
dorser. 

At last I reached the cabin. I can see, 
even now, the looks of wonder, as tbe two 
tall sons and three daughters rushed out, 
each with a flaming pine knot in their hand ; 
and it seemed to me a legion of dogs at their 
heels, barking at the top of their canine 
voices. 

To add to the confusion my baby boy, 
frightened at the dogs, began to scream at 
the top of his voice; and being blessed with 
a good pair of lungs, he made it absolutely 
impossible for any one to be heard. 

Their father's horse, a strange woman and 
a screaming baby ! — No wonder they seemed 
to stand appalled at the apparation! But, 
with native kindness, they assisted me down 
from tbe horse, led me into the cabin, shut 
tjhe door upon the dogs, and waited for me 
tip get the child quiet so that I could tell my 
story. At that moment another scout en- 
tered the room, and leaned upon his musket 
awaiting my explanation. This was soon 
given. The boys finished their suppers to 
Which they invited me. This supper con- 
sisted of common corn pones, chunks of 
bacon fried, and some non-descript dish 
lcjoking like cold boiled greens. 

'When I declined their preferred hospital- 
ity (and I tried not to show the loathing 
w hieh I felt towards the coarbe food, know- 
in ig that it was the best they had), one of the 
ty'ltis made me a cup of sweet potatoe coffee. 
TiLis I forced myself to drink; whilst the 
bc'pys hitched the oxen to a low- wheeled 
faym wagon and started for the railroad. 

They informed me before they started 
thiat they could not return under three 



hours, as the road cut for a wagon was con- 
siderably longer than the bridle path I had 
taken. 

My baby, having become quieted down, 
was delighted with the notice that he re- 
ceived from the girls ; who, after a noisy 
romp with him, came out of doors where I 
was sitting upon a log, weeping such tears 
as people only shed when utter despair 
seizes them, to beg as a great favor that they 
might undress him and give him a bath; to 
which I of course assented. 

After a while I went in to look after his 
welfare in those seemingly uncouth hands. 
I found him splashing in a tub of water 
with two of the girls watching him; whilst 
the third had unlocked a small old-fashioned 
chest, and was reverentially lifting out some 
garments, until she had reached nearly the 
bottom She there found a few articles of 
baby apparel yellow with time. From these 
she selected a night dress and brought it 
forward to put on my boy. 

No girls brought up in dainty, luxurious 
homes, could manifest greater tenderness 
over relics of their own fastidious mothers, 
than did these red-handed, coarse-appearing 
girls over the mementoes of their own dead 
mother. Coarse, homespun garments, laid 
away in that chest with sweet smelling 
herbs, and handled with bated breath! 
When they put that little gown upon my 
boy not a word was uttered by either of 
them— only the crowing of the boy himself 
was heard. 

As they all seemed so contented 1 walked 
out of doors again, where I was soon fol- 
lowed by one of the girls. After saying that 
ber youngest sister was rocking the baby to 
sleep, she told me something of their 
mother. 

She had died many years before. The 
baby, over whose coming all had rejoiced, 
died with her. Their lives, hard before, 
became still harder; being bereft of the love 
which this poor, uncultivated mother seem- 
ed to have lavished upon her children. 

Whilst we were sitting upon the log, wait- 
ing for the cart with the trunks and chil- 
dren, our attention was attracted by the red 
appearance of the sky in the direction of 
Brandon. 






^ 



When the old man and boys came in, 
after putting up the oxen, (which they did 
whilst their sisters were admiring the chil- 
dren, and feeding them with cornbread and 
milk, which came very acceptable to the 
weary and half famished little ones), they 
told me that the scouts had informed tbem 
that Brandon was occupied by Federal 
troops, and was on fire; as some of the 
negroes had fired the town. But tney 
thought it would not be all destroyed, as 
the troops were doing their utmost to ex- 
tinguish the fire. 

The children were soon asleep. To give 
you an idea of the isolation of that class of 
people in the Southern States, I will inform 
you that not one of that family, except the 
father, had ever been in a town — not even 
Brandon; and had never seen a lady or chil 
dren like my family before. Even the 
nature of some of the children's garments 
was entirely unknown to tbem 

After they were asleep, the old man and 
myself planned our arrangements for get- 
ting me back to the plantation. With great 
good sense he showed me the folly of allow- 
ing myself to be forced away from there 
My board was paid. I had horses which I 
could ride— no one better. Oo one side of 
the plantation was the Confederate camp; 
on the other, the Federal. Either of them 
would protect me from any violence; and I 
need not be afraid of his threats, for my 
power would be as strong as his could be 
with either side "For," the old man 
shrewdly said, "a smart and pretty woman 
has more influence anytime than a man." 

He agreed to take his ox cart, his only 
vehicle, as soon as it was light enough to 
start, and take me to the plantation, or as 
near there as was practiceahle; for, if ihe 
Federalists had marched beyond Brandon 
very far, it might not be possible for us to 
proceed. 

I promised to give him two hundred dol- 
lars if our venture was successful; and one 
thousand dollars if his oxen were confis- 
cated by either side. 

This old man knew that I had this sum, 
and still more, on my person. And do you 
not think that it required some nerve to sit 
there at the mercy of his sons and himself, 



in that pine forest, and show no fear? 
When I thought of those girls around my 
baby, with their dead mother's precious 
garments upon him, my fear all vanished— 
even if the simple homeliness of the man 
had deceived me. 

At dawn he aroused the boys and girls to 
provide such breakfast as their larder afford- 
ed. This was soon done, and I bade good 
bye to them for ever, giving each of the 
girls a portion of the children's ribbons and 
saches as keepsakes. 

Were there ever such long fifteen miles 1 
I was stopped at the camp, but allowed to 
proceed without annoyance. 

After traveling about eight miles, and I 
was on the ground walking behind the cart, 
for the jolting had become intolerable to 
me, and I could ride no farther in it, we 
were suddenly met and surrounded by a 
Confederate General and his staff. All dis- 
mounted at the strange spectacle we pre 
sented. He demanded with authority who 
I was, where I was going, and the contents 
of my trunks. 

My tale was soon told; and the farmer 
was called upon to speak as to the character 
of the planter, who had virtually turned me 
out of doors. 

If their time had permitted, they woul< [ 
have sent an escort with me, with orders t|) 
threaten devastation and ulter ruin to minje 
host; but their orders were imperative tb 
break up camp immediately and retire far 
ther into the country. 

The commanding officer, however, ad 
vised me to wait only a reasonable time j 
and then, if I did not hear from my hus 
band, to go to the Federal authorities, an 
ask their protection through their line 
some relatives of my husband in the Nortl 

This little episode cheered up all. We le t 
our military friends, who swept the grounl 
with their plumed hats as they bade nb 
"God speed!" 

When, after hours of weary travel, ije 
reached Mr. Robinson's house, I was amaz. 
to see upon the gallery, chatting familiar 
with him and his wife, a soldier in tl p 
familiar gray. i 

I was greeted with horrified looks froi >( 



27 



[r. Thompson himself; but I walked deter- 
xinedly into my old room. 

He ordered Mr. Stebbins not to take the 
funks from off the cart, and the children to 
tay outside the yard. 

The soldier in gray, who proved to be 
Irs. Robinson's brother, turned to me for 
n explanation of my reappearance; for 
hey had told him of their happy riddance 
t me. 



i He had evidently heard their side of the 
tory; but, knowing his brother-in-law well, 
lad not put implicit confidence In his ver- 
don. Neither had he wondered at his wish- 
ng to rid himself of me, in order to save his 
;redit With the Unionists. It was also quite 
is evident that he had not been told that 
i ny board for six months was in his brother's 
aands, for when I mentioned that fact, also 
ihat the saddle horse and pony in the yard 
fwere mine, he muttered an oath; and going 
into the yard, he ordered the negroes stand- 
ing around to take those trunks into the 
house. Whilst they were obeying those 
orders, he took his brother in law one side. 
What arguments he used I never knew ; but 
no more opposition was made to my return- 
ing. It was some time after that he in- 
formed me that Mr. Thompson had led him 
to think that I had to leave the horses for 
payment of my board, and was still in his 
debt. 

I My old farmer, with native independance, 
[had demanded food for his oxen and lunch 
for himself; for which he paid. Then, tak- 
ing me one side, he strenously urged upon 
me the necessity of using every endeavor to 
[ascertain if my husband was still alive ; and 
if I found he was not, or if, after waiting a 
reasonable time, I heard nothing in regard 
'to him, to be sure and adopt the officer's 
^dvice and go North. 
He utterly refused the sum I had agreed 
) give him, accepting only the amount that 
e had paid Mr. Thompson for his own and 
is oxen's dinner; saying, with emotion, 
This will be one of my donations to the 
ause; and you will need all that you have 
ot, my poor girl, before this cruel war is 
iver." The next day a detachment of sol- 
liers in gray rode into tho yard with wagons, 
lemanding a certain amount of corn and 



fodder, which they loaded up and took 
away with them without payment. Before 
they left the place the noncommissioned 
officer in command rode to the gallery, 
touched his cap to me and said: "I was sent 
to inquire after your safety and your recep- 
tion by this man." 

I was too much taken by surprise to 
reply readily; and, whilst I stammered out 
a reply, he turned to Mr. Thompson and 
sternly told him he had orders to the effect 
that, if he did not find the lady comfortably 
and safely housed, he wa6 to take all the 
produce that he could find on the place, and 
fire the buildings; and remember," he con- 
tinued, "we have orders to watch you, and 
if you are the cause of her leaving here 
again, it will be done. In protecting her, 
you are protecting yourself." 

At this they rode away. Whether this 
threat would have ever been fulfilled or not, 
I do not know ;^but it answered the purpose 
of procuring at least present civility to- 
wards me. 

A couple of weeks of comparative quiet 
followed, broken only by stragglers from 
the Confederate Army, asking for something 
to eat. They were numerous ; for we were 
on the line of retreat from Jackson into the 
country. The Federalists marched no far- 
ther into the country than Brandon; and at 
the expiration of a fortnight, being ordered 
back to Jackson, the town was free from 
military. 

As soon as this occurred I began my rides 
into town again, in hopes of finding some 
means of communication with the troops in 
North Louisiana; as the brigade to which 
my husband belonged, was there the last I 
knew anything in regard to it. Finally, 
after many weary and anxious days of 
searching, I found an old gentleman, a non- 
combatant, who owned an estate about fifty 
miles from where the brigade was stationed, 
at the time of my husband's last visit to me, 
I had heard nothing from him since then, 
and this was nearest to an address that I 
could give. 

I wrote all of my sad experience down in 
the form of a letter to him, and asked this 
gentleman, if he found that my husband 
had not returned to his command, to give it 



28 



to the officer commanding the brigade, add 
ing a note to that officer imploring him, if 
possible, to send me word of my darling's 
probable fate, giving a stated time for 
which I would wait for an answer before 
leaving, or tryirfg to leave, for the North. 

God, in his infinite mercy, did not let me 
lack for employment during that fearful 
period of suspense. Not only the servants 
on the place, but all of the white children 
were attacked with malignant diphtheria; 
and in fighting that dread disease for our 
children's lives, I had little opportunity to 
brood. 

All were out of danger; when, one fine 
day, while I was pacing up and down the 
gallery, counting the days that still remained 
before my final decision in regard to en- 
deavoring to get through the lines to the 
North, had to be reached, I saw, driving up 
to the fence, a large ambulance with two 
large gray mules driven by a negro. Fol- 
lowing this was a four mule wagon, empty. 
I stepped into the house to send a servant 
down to the fence, never doubting that it 
was some one on their way to the plantation 
beyond us, when my host passed me to in 
quire for himself in regard to their wishes. 
I stopped to hear for whom they inquired. 
I saw the driver of the ambulance hand a 
letter to Mr. Thompson and heard the word* 
"Mrs. Major." I waited for no more. I 
dashed to the fence, seized the letter, saw 
that It was directed in my husband's own 
handwriting, got back to the gallery, and 
fainted dead away 1 

When I had recovered, and read my let- 
ter, I found that the gentleman to whom I 
had entrusted my piteous appeal, had kept 
his word. He had, as he had promised, 
found their camp then located in the south- 
ern part of Arkansas; and he himself, with 
his own hands, had put into the Colonel's 
possession my letter, and the Colonel, the 
true, kind hearted friend, had dispatched a 
courier with it to that portion of the troops 
where my husband was stationed. 

They together devised a plan for sending 
for me. They sent to a planter friend, who 
lived on the same side of the river where I 
then was, a letter by a special courier, a^k 
ing his assistance in getting me in some 



manner to the river bank at Rodney. This 
friend wrote me, that to land me at Rodney 
was all he could undertake to do, that every 
three to five miles up and down the river 
were stationed gunboats, and that one of 
these had a regular station at Rodney. It 
was the duty of these gunboats to patrol the 
river, and prevent any one from crossing 
without their knowledge. Also, that the 
courier who brought him my husband's let- 
ter, crossed in the night in a canoe, and tell- 
ing me where and how to find the boat and 
oarsman, provided I had to ' cross in that 
manner. He also informed me that there 
was a ferry boat run, by permission of the 
gunboat, from Rodney to a landing on the 
other side, which landing, however, was in 
the woods three miles from the village of 
St. Joseph, and two miles from the nearest 
house Having explained all this, he added : 
"The men I send are fuliy trustworthy,! I 
can give you no advice as to the manner in 
which you had better proceed after reaching 
the river, but will have to leave that to your 
own good judgment, after seeing the situa- 
tion of affairs. 



CHAPTER VII 

ACROSS THE RIVER 

The next morning, a bright and beau if ul ' 
one, saw me started on my venture At th0 
risk of seeming a little tedious, I will give^ 
an account of my experience on the way to, 
the river. 

The baggage wagon carried my trunks 
and two well-filled lunch baskets; for my 
skill in nursing his sick children, had won 
Mr. Thompson's heart to such an extent, 
that he did everything in his power to start 
me off comfortably. 

The ambulance was one of the largest 
known, with four seats in it. The two 
middle seats we took out and put them into 
the baggage wagon. In the space thus 
made in the bottom of the ambulance, wie , 
put blankets, comfortables and pillowy, 
some of which I purchased from a neign-1 
boring planter. This for four days w^,a 
my children's play house; for I put in lit 
plenty of picture books and playthings, j 

We drove about fifteen miles that day| 



29 



and bad already begun making inquiries at 
t,be different bouses on our route, for a 
place to sleep. Finally we drove up to a 
large white bouse on tbe main road, with 
every window on tbe first floor aglow witb 
tbe ruddy light of the pine knot on the 
hearth. 

Here, before the gentlemanly negro who 
; drove the ambulance, could rid himself of 
; the doejs which spraDg from all sides to wel- 
come us, a jovial voice at the side of the 
J ambulance startled me, as some person ex- 
claimed, "My soul! Where did all these 
! babies come from? Want to stay all night, 
,#f course! Here Jim, Sam, call your mis- 
v ^ss! Tell Jane, Suke and all the women, 
to ■'icome and carry these children to the 
house! Leave the babies to my good-for- 
nothing servants, take my arm and walk 
right in! Now isn't it lucky you come 
along just now ! I was just telling mother 
how lonesome I was! I tell you it's tough 
times siace the boys went off to the army 1" 
With this kind welcome, how could I but 
be my old self, and let tbe five or six col- 
ored girls that he called take charge of my 
, children, whose stomachs were soon filled 
\ to repletion : after which ceremony they 
(were carried off up stairs to bed; whilst I 
related to the kind planter and his motherly 
[wife my adventures, finding at times a 
icomic side to these same woes, by which I 
/called up the laughter of my listeners. 
I They had no daughters; and theii three 
'sons were with that portion of the troops I 
had encountered on the farther side of 
Brandon, when I was with tbe ox cart. 

When I retired to my room I slept 
soundly. One day of my dreaded journey 
was over, and in my cheery planter I beheld 
an omen of good. 

I Before light I was aroused by an awful 
commotion in the yard under my window. 

I I looked out and beheld my host confusing, 
witjh his orders and counter-orders, a lot of 
legJTO boys, who with pine torches were en- 
Jeajvcring to catch squalling chickens. 

^Lbpvs the din could be heard: "Here Sam, 

" void lszy boy, hurry up and get those chick- 

tns 'to the kitchen! Yes, Dinah, stop your 

squalling at me: we are coming!" 

I Tlhen, again and again would come: 



"Mars John, hurry) up dem lazy, good-for- 
nothing niggers!" 

I laughed till I cried and then returned to 
my bed; for orders were given me the night 
befoie, on no account to let him know of 
my being out of bed till "Old mammy," the 
head nurse of a planter's family, had been 
up and given me leave. 

Shortly after old mammy came in with a 
cup of coffee, hot and strong; saying that 
Mars John was sorry to call me so soon, 
but he thought I ought to start early on my 
journey ; and he had sent me a cup of real 
coffee, which they kept only for sickness — 
like all others who were fortunate enough 
to possess a few pounds. 

Then appeared all the younger darkies of 
the place to help prepare the children; and 
my own girl, finding her services not 
needed, stole off to the kitchen where, judg- 
ing from her sleepiness the rest of the day, 
old Dinah must have stuffed her until even 
her negro stomach could hold no more. 

When breakfast was over I found that 
my lunch baskets had been brought in and 
replenished from the well filled table we had 
left. Mars John refused all remuneration 
except for the corn and fodder that the 
mules had eaten: taking no pay for what 
my own horse and pony had consumed. He 
sad that it was given me because my hus- 
band was fighting for the cause, like his 
own boys 

That day's ride was a pleasant one; but 
my driver, at the close of tbe afternoon, be- 
gan to express his fears that we would be 
obliged to sleep ^n the ambulance that 
night, as he had no recollection of any 
place on that side of the' Bayou where 
there was a house. The^ Bayou was very 
high with water; and the ferry boat used 
was a heavy flat boat, held by chains and 
pulled across by a uegro; and he was afraid 
to venture on it with his team in the uncer- 
tainty of twilight. 

Just before we reached the Bayou we 
heard the sound of singing. Turning a 
bend in the road, we came upon a camp 
fire surrounded by men singing as they pre- 
pared their supper. A little to one side in a 
charing, was a log cabin of two rooms. 
Back of that was the kitchen, from which 



30 



wt could hear the splattering and smell the 
odor of frying meat. 

Upon inquiry the woman of the house 
said that she would give up her own room 
to me; which room had a very good bed 
and a trundle bed in it. 

We Bupped from my basket and slept in 
that room. 

In the morning I asked her where 
her children and herself had slept, as 
I saw no other bed or place for a bed on the 
place. She showed me a little room with 
the floor covered with pine boughs, and a 
coarse blanket thrown over them. 

She explained that her husband and a 
grown up son, sixteen years old, had joined 
the army, leaving her with four little girls 
and an aged father to take care of the farm, 
with the assistance only of an old superan- 
nuated colored man and his wife. She only 
had some bacon and sweet potatoes to do 
with ; but the soldiers who came that way 
were glad to get a hot supper of bacon and 
corn bread, whilst she used the potatoes 
only for coffee. The soldiers, she said, 
paid her whatever they could afford. She 
left entirely to myself the amount of re- 
muneration for the use of the room. Her 
little girls were very much pleased with the 
gift of a picture book from the stores of the 
ambulance. 

This sweet potato coffee was made by 
paring and cutting the raw potatoes into 
thin slips, drying and parching them the 
same as you would coffee berries. If one 
had a little coffee to flavor it with, it was 
the best substitute for coffee we had. 

As we were obliged to allow the soldiers 
to cross the ferry in the morning ahead of 
us, it was late before we were on the other' 
side and fairly under way. 

That day was an anxious one to me ; for 
the next one would find me at Rodney. 
My driver had informed me that he knew 
of an excellent stopping place within a half 
day's drive, where he thought we could 
find good accommodations for the night. It 
was at one of the planter princes, who still 
had sufficient supplies to treat generously 
all friends of the Confederacy. 

According to his expectations we reached 
there and were treated most hospitably and 



royally. The next morning we started foi 
the river. I had formed no plans as yet 
How could I?— knowing so little of the con 
dition of affairs. 

My drivers and teams belonged to j 
planter too far back from the river to hav< 
been as yet molested by the enemy : how 
ever, they had never been allowed permis 
sion to go down to the river for fear of con 
flacation. See how they trusted their faith 
fulboys, even now! Their orders were V 
drive me to the door of an acquaintance c 
his in Rodney, who was a widow lad} 
Having arrived at her door they were I 
unload me and my trunks as rapidly as pc 
sible, without waiting to see whether I 'i 
admitted to the house or not. They JL 
not to venture into the village with me, 
they saw any of the men of the gun boat c" 
shore ; but to wait until the coast was clea 

Upon a hill overlooking the village an 
river we stopped to reconnoiter. Not i 
soul was seen on the street. On the rive 
bank was a rude ferry boat, but no on 
near it. The gun boat was not in sight 
but, down the river, a thin curling line c 
smoke revealed its whereabouts. 

This was better luck than our wildea 
hopes had anticipated, for it allowed m; 
teams to deposit us and leave town withou 
molestation from anyone. 

I was soon standing on the sidewalk i: 
front of the door of Mrs. Dumont, with m; 
baggage beside me; and, before my sun: 
mons at the door was answered, I had bi 
good bye to the boys, and they were drn 
ing rapidly out of the village, just as th 
gun boat steamed lazily into town and fire 
its salute. 

After peeping through the glass of th 
hall door, a negress grey with age opene 
the door about the width of a hand an 
volubly protested that "Missus" was awaj 
"All right," said I; "but here is a not 
from Mr. Stevens which you must givel 
as soon as she comes in ; and I will sitT 
the door step until she returns." 

I fancied that this threat of sitting or 
door step might be a formidable one.f 
we were in plain view of the gunboat; 
I judged that the sight of a group of pe<| 
with a number of trunks, a horse and pi 



ll.Li.n-.4PK— ■■■ 



31 



would be likely to bring an officer on shore 
to inquire into it: also, that the village 
people would naturally dread any attention 
from that quarter. 

Scarcely a moment elapsed before a smart 
negro boy emerged from the back gate and, 
seizing one of the horse's bridle reins, in a 
breathless way intimated the wish of his 
mistress, that he should get the horses into 
the stable and out of sight as soon as pos- 
sible. Sending my little son with him, I 
assisted tne old negress, who by this time 
had the door wide open, in getting the rest 
safely housed. 

The mistress was in the house; but in 
v such a state of terror at my invasion, that I 
1 really began to think ber demented. 

After she had treated me to a violent fit 
of hysterics, I was informed of the reason 
of all these precautions and fears. 

The villagers, as I had judged, dreaded 
nothing more than a visit of inquiry from 
the gun boat. Therefore they kept doors 
and window shutters tightly closed. Not a 
sign of life was visible, unless in the dark- 
ness and under cover of night, trie negroes 
stole out to visit one another. Neighbor 
was afraid of neighbor; for who knew but 
that their best friends might betray them in 
order to curry favor with the enemy. 

This old lady lived alone here with her 
grand-daughter. All her servants had left 
her except this old negress, the mammy of 
the place, and the boy whose attachment to 
the grandchild had kept him faithfully with 
them. 

In imagination she already beheld some 

one reporting my arrival at the house and 

the soldiers on their way to take my things 

and despoil her house in punishment for 

harboring the wife of a Confederate officer. 

On the other hand was the command of a 

trurty friend — on peril, of the loss of his 

confidence and esteem if she allowed the 

Vit/ite of his friend to stay in the streets or 

•egouie to harm through her fears. This last, 

i ea ombined with her own native kindness and 

Aboodness of heart, overcame her fears. 

yoi After talking with her servants and her- 

tnslf. I for the first formed a plan for cioss- 

gqu-g the river. 

( TThey had told me that in order to cross 



upon the ferry boat, I would be obliged to 
ask .permission of the gun boat ; as the ferry 
was entirely under their control, of course. 

My plan was this. I would take my little 
son, his horse and pony, down to the river 
bank that afternoon and humbly ask per- 
mission to cross with tnem. Then, riding 
on horseback to the vUlage of St. Joseph, 
and thence three miles to my aunt's planta- 
tion There I would procure teams to come 
back to the landing with me on the following 
morning, to get my children and baggage, 
which I hoped they would allow to cross at 
that time: leaving them, in the meantime, 
over night with Mrs. Dumont. 

The old lady was pleased at the idea of 
getting rid of us so soon; but expressed as 
much astonishment at my bravery in daring 
to ask so much of the Federal officers, as if 
I waa venturing into a lion s den. 

P^or old lady I With what fear and 
trembling she saw me stare out on my ven- 
ture! Htr last words were, "I snuli pray 
to God all the time you are away, my 
dear." 

When I reached the river the ferry- 
man told me 1 would be obliged to sig- 
nal the gun boat from that point; as he had 
orders never to approach the gun boat with- 
out first receiving permission from them to 
do so. If they were willing to receive me 
they would give a certain signal to that 
effect. 

We signaled and signaled again, with no 
response; although we could see them look- 
ing at us through a field glass. 

The ferryman says, "No use, Missus: 
they sometimes will not let the ferry run; 
and to-day is one of their bad days, I 
reckon." 

I turned to him and asked him why he 
would not take me to the gun boat without 
waiting for an answer to our signal. He 
turned ash color at the suggestion ; protest- 
ing he would not dare. 

"See here," said I; "do you know Mars 
Geoff Hall? Well, I am his wife!" 

"Oh yes, Miss Francie, I knowed you all 
the time; but thought pr'aps you did not 
dare have any of dese fool niggers around 
here know; for dey mought make you 
heaps ob trubble." 



32 



My pleasure at the success of this chance 
shot was great; for I was by no means sure 
that I was addresstng one of my aunt's ser- 
vants. But I had hazarded the remark 
upon a slight resemblance I fancied I saw 
in him, to one of my aunt's most trusted 
boys. "Well then, George, you know that 
I will keep my word. If you will take me 
to the gun boat, and any harm comes to you 
from it, you shall have my horses as your 
own." 

Finally, with the aid of a couple of gold 
pieces put directly in his hand, I prevailed 
upon him to consent to my wishes. 

Upon arriving at the side of the black 
monster, a lieutenant in undress uniform 
condescended to lean over the side; and, 
hearing my petition, lazily signified his con- 
sent. When he had done this, I remarked : 

"To morrow is Sunday. Will that make 
any difference in your allowing the ferry to 

"No madame; we do not allow the ferry 
to run any trips, any day, except by special 
permission; and we will grant that to you 
for tomorrow.'' 

In a few moments we were in the woods 
on the opposite shore, and riding rapidly 
away ; for it was already growing dark, and 
a horseback ride of six miles was before me. 

As we reached the village of St. Joseph, 
I stopped to return the greetings of my 
many acquaintances. They would have de- 
tained me half the night, detailing the news 
from the other side; but, I dreaded my three 
mile ride which still lay before me through 
plantation paths, too much to tarry loDg. I 
staid long enough to learn that my hus- 
band's command was in Arkansas; and that 
the family to whom I was hastening having 
left the plantation on a visit, it was doubt- 
ful my finding the requisite teams for my 
purpose. 

On arriving at the plantation, I received 
a hearty welcome from the servants, who 
informed me that they expected their mis- 
tress home the next day. There was an old 
carriage in the carriage house, which might 
hold together; and the head man of the 
fields said that he would take some of the 
field mules to haul that, and also a large 
wagon. 






Behold me the next morning with two 
mules hitched to an old broken down look- 
ing carriage! Another pair of mules to a 
rough home-made wagou. The harness was 
tied together with ropes ; and the four ne- 
groes who were to accompany me were 
ragged and shoeless. I do not think there 
was a piece of the original garment left on 
any of them. 

With this cavalcade I lumbered back to 
the river bink — leaving horses and son to 
the cafe of the servants at the plantation. 

After what seemed an interminable time, 
we reached the river opposite the gun boat, 
and the village of Rodney. 

I signaled the gun boat; and soon had A 
the satisfaction of seeing a full-manned 
officer's boat, commanded by a midshipman, 
shoot from the side of the gun boat towards 
the side of the bank on which I was sit- 
ting. 

Upon its arrival, much to my surprise, I 
was politely informed that, owing to its be- 
ing the Sabbath, no one could be permitted 
to cross the river. I remonstrated — remind- 
ing him that I had called attention to that 
fact the day before, and had been assured 
that the rule need not be enforced on that 
day. 

I could only state to him the facts of the 
case, in regard to the young children I had 
left on the other side with utter strangers, 
and ask him to urge some action in regard 
to my situation upon his superior officer; 
which, promising to do, he returned to the 
boat. 

In spite of my chagrin, I could but watch 
with admiration that little boat as it dashed 
from the shore. How true the strokes of 
the oars; so evenly taken that they made 
scarcely a ripple on the surface of the water. 

He did not return. My men made a fire 
by the side of a stump; and, producing 
some cornbread and a coffee pot of eubsti 
tute for coffee to warm over, proceeded to 
make themselves comfortable. 

Being unable to account for their 
rent preparation for a long stay, as 
put implicit confidence in the promises of 
the officer, I inquired of one of them hi w it 
had happened that they had brought eat- 
ables with them. 



:ded to 

f »ppa-LV 
I had^j 



38 



"Ob, we know dese Yankee tricks! And 
can stay here a week if you want us." 

A tumult ot feelings arose within me as I 
spent that Sabbath — one of nature's most 
tranquil days— gazing out on that river. 
Can any one wonder that at times I would 
have felt almost glad to have seen that huge 
black monster sink out of sight! It, looked 
as grim and inexorable as death— lying upon 
the still water! Not a sound disturbed the 
stillness! Not a person was visible any 
where! The only sigo of life around was 
that displayed at my fire. 

I watched that scene until nearly dark, 
loth to give up hope even then ! When 
tne of the men said, "Miss Francie, 'bout a 
mile back from here one of Mars Geoff's 
friends has a plantation, and I tfaink dat we 
can find you a bed and something to eat 
there. The white folks are all gone; but 
some of the niggers are there. Den we can 
be at de river early in the morning; as thai 
young man told you you might have the 
ferry as early as you pleased " 

I took his advice, and we drove to the 
house he had spoken of. It was once one 
of the finest houses in th;;t section of the 
country ; but, at the first visit of the Feder- 
alists, the family had secured what they 
could, and become refugees. 

Most of the outbuildings had been already 
burned; and the few that were still remain 
ing, were being rapidly demolished to make 
fuel, by a few family servants. These serv- 
ants, like others, had gone to Vicksburg 
after its fall; but sickness had so thinned 
their number, that in desperate home-sick 
ness tbey had returned to the old home. 

Here I passed the night, the only white 
person on the place; in fact, the only one 
for miles around. I slept on one of their 
beds in a cabin, end ate a piece of cornbread 
washed down with water. These poor 
creatures parched corn and use:l it for tea 
and coffee; no milk in it, and sweetened 
jth the blackest of molasses. 

hen morning came, I returned to the 
Ver bank with servants and teams. My 
amazement was great to find no gun boat 
there; but, supposing that it had gone 
patrolliDg the river, I 3at in the carriage 
whilst the negroes replenished the fire. 



About noon a small supply steamer ran 
up opposite me; and two gentlemen got into 
a row boat with oarsmen, and pulled up 
stream. 

By the middle of the afternoon my im- 
patience at the delay had become almost 
intolerable. I was meditating a return to 
St. Joseph, to see if any feasible plan could 
be hit upon there, by which I could get 
across the river; wren one of the negroes 
exclaimed that a carriage with some gentle- 
men in it was approaching from the village. 

It proved to be an acquaintance from the 
village, accompanied by one of our most in- 
timate friends from New Orleans; and, what 
was still more surprising, also by a brother 
of my husband, from the North. They 
were the two gentlemen who had rowed 
from the supply steamer. Tboy had come 
from New Orleans in this little steamer, 
from sheer curiosity — not dreaming of find- 
ing any one on their route whom thr-y ever 
knew before. 

These supply steamers brought the vari- 
ous articles needed by the gunboats; and 
this one was to set out on its return that 
evening. 

My brother-in-law said be would return 
to St. Joseph, and report to the gunboat 
there my condition, and see if they could 
not arrange in some manner for my gettir g 
across to the children Then he sh' u'd in- 
sist upon my abandoning my project of get- 
ting into the country, and of my going im- 
mediately to the North with him. Our 
arguments were all pleasant ones, until he 
denounced my husband for not going to the 
North upon the breaking out of the war, in- 
stead of dragging his wife and children into 
such desperate straits. Then my over- 
wrought nerves gave way, and I sobbed so 
uncontrollably that he was glad to desist and 
leave me to my own will. 

As soon as I was quiei they left me; and, 
returning to the village, as I afterwards 
learned, they did lay a complaint before the 
officer stationed there.who, happening to be 
a senior officer, sent word to the officer in 
command of the Rodney gunboat, to return 
immediately and fulfill his promise to me. 
This boat was then above St. Joseph wood- 
ing up. 



34 



It seemed along time; but the gunboat 
did at last return, and sent its boat full 
manned, with the same midshipman in com- 
mand who had interviewed me the previous 
Sabbath morning. 

Telling the negroes to remain where they 
were until I returned, or seat them word 
that 1 had given up all hope of success, I 
joyfully stepped into the boat, never doubt- 
ing that a few hours would find me with 
them again. 

Instead of taking me to the villsge, they 
rowed directly to the dreaded gunboat, and 
courteously invited me to go aboard. I de- 
clined, saying "I wish to go direct to Rod- 
ney to my children." "Presently madame," 
was the pleasant reply; "but for the present 
you must go aboard here." 

Feeling that remonstrances would be use- 
less, I followed him up stairs, where I was 
ushered into a room I judged to be the 
cabin. It was lighted by port holes, which 
were too high up for me to look from, even 
if the glass in them had not been so very 
thick that the daylight became a very faint 
twilight. 

In the centre of the room was a table cov- 
ered with books, apparently new magazines 
and papers. Easy chairs were scattered 
around the room. When I heard the key 
turned upon me, I realized all at once that I 
was a prisoner, and passionately threw my- 
self into a chair. 

Although I could see no one around, po 
strong was my conviction that I was only 
detained to annoy me, and that nothing seri- 
ous was intended, and that any expression 
of annoyance would be but a pleasure to my 
jailers, that I sat perfectly still with an 
assumption of indifference I was far from 
feeling, although the wheels moved, and 
the sound of the paddles in the water an- 
nounced the fact that the steamer was in 
motion. 

My conjecture proved right. At dark the 
motion of the steamer ceased. The door of 
the cabin was opened, and a voice an- 
nounced that I was at liberty to go ashore. 

As I had not the slightest idea in what 
direction we had been moving, 1 naturally 
inquired, "At what point are you going to 
put me ashore V" 



"At Rodney," was the answer. 
I never knew where we had been, but 
concluded that they had taken me on their 
nightly patrol. 

As I stepped into the captain's gig, I 
looked at the river bank, and was cheered 
by the sight of the negroes around a brill- 
iant fire Their teams were picketed, and 
everything showed that my orders were be- 
ing obeyed, and that they were waiting for 
me. 

Seeing this, my courage rose to the point 
of asking, "Might I not take the children 
across this same night?" 

"No," was the reply; "but early in the 
morning ; as early as you can get the ferry 
man up, you may cross; but remember that 
you must come to the gunboat first, to have 
your baggage examined." 

My heart sank! For had I not been prom- 
ised twice before that the next day should 
gee the fulfillment of my. hopes. 

How glad the poor children and the old 
Udy were to see me! I found to my sur- 
prise that they had, with the aid of a field 
glass, kept watch of me the two days I had 
passed on the river bank. Using the glass 
had proved a happy thought, for it had 
shortened the hours of my absence. 

No sleep for me that nis;ht. Early in the 
morning I went to the house of the ferry 
man, to get him to assist in the removal of 
my baggage to the ferry boat. The moving 
figures on the opposite side revived my 
drooping courage. 

We were soon at the side of the gunboat. 
I handed my keys to the lieutenant, and ho 
proceeded to open and inspect the contents 
of my trunks. It was evidently an unwel- 
come task, and he performed it as quickly 
as possible. 

My little colored girl had her clothing in 
a large carpet bag That escaped investiga- 
tion, because it belonged to the favored race 
of colored persons! How I did wish it was 
filled with quinine, for Callie would nevi 
have told. I 

At last we were free from that awful gm(^ 
boat; and, for the first time in maDy days, 
I laughed. 

"Hist, Miss Francie! You aint out of the 
woods yet," said the ferry man, and coniin- 



i^fMMI 



35 



ued, 'De udder day I took a poor sick Ger- 
man and his wife across. De offsur sarcbed 
her baggige; but she had a mighty putty 
pair of pistols in a little bag on her arm, 
and dey did not think to sarch dat. I put 
dem on shore and pulled off. She climbed 
up the bank, den laffed jus as you did, 
pulled her pistols out and waived dem. My! 
How quick dat Cappin had his boat out. 
Dey dun took her pistols way from her, and 
put her and her old man back to Rodney in 
no time. If dey hear you l&ff, dey will haif? 
you back." 

I looked back and saw two glistening 

glasses levelled at me from the gunboat. I 

laughed no more, but in dead silence clam- 

< bered up the bank, where I was warmly 

welcomed by the rough negroes. 

Rough, dirty fellows though they were, 
they seemed like tried friends to me then. 
They were in as much hasce as myself to 
get out of the range of those glasses, and 
we were soon in motion for town. 

As long as we were in sight, we could see 
the gleaming of those glasses. When we 
reached the plantation, I found the mistress 
had returned. All need of present exertion 
removed, I found myself obliged to remain 
quiet the rest of the day. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE SALT LAKE. 

The next morning dawned, ushering in 
one of those bright and beautiful, perfect 
days, when nature seems to bid all mankind 
rejoice. I arose with energy restored. 

My heart sickened though, when, after 
breakfast, I walked around the place and 
, noted the changes — the desolate changes — 
which war bad brought to that once lux- 
urious home. 

Those elegant homes of the old regime, 
having become things of the past, I will try 
and give some idea, thougn it may be an 

J imperfect one, of them. 
I My aunt was a native of Louisiana. She 
|ad never been north but, twice and then 
ODly for a brief season. She had inherited 
from her father (who was one of the old 
style planter princes) a magnificent planta- 
tion and a force of three hundred slaves. 



These slaves had now increased to nearly 
five hundred. The house was a story and 
a half house ; but the height of the rooms 
io a first-class house in the south makes a 
building full as high as a two story house 
in the north. A passage ran through the 
centre, with double parlors on one side, 
and two immense bed rooms on the other. 
A gallery ran all around this house. Open- 
ing from this gallery, was a very large dining 
room with china closet and store room for 
sugars, coffees, wines and lighter groceries 
attached. On the other side of the house, 
and opening upon the main gallery, were 
three guest chambers with galleries also ex- 
tending around them. The house stood 
about eight feet from the ground. It was 
;ill open underneath; and, being kept thor- 
oughly clean, it made a good place for the 
tremendous ice chest. This was also an 
excellent place for the white and colored chil- 
dren to play. 

In the rear of the house waa a large smoke 
house ; and a store room also for the sugar, 
molasses and coarser groceries needed for 
the servants. In another small building 
was kept a large supply of tobacco for the 
use of the negroes. 

Every Saturday afternoon the overseer, 
assisted by the bead olored man, weighed 
out each negro's supply for the ensuing 
week: adding for the aged and infirm a 
package of tea, coffee or white sugar, as 
they might desire. 

Quite a way from the house was the broad 
street, with the white cabins on each side, 
and chicken houses and gardens in the rear. 
Whenever they had produce (rom their gar- 
dens, or eggs andchickenstosell, they were 
brought to the house, and "Missus" bought 
them at the highest market price of the vil- 
lage. Twice a year the cabins and palings 
surrounding them were whitewashed. 

The overseer's house was a large white 
house, nearly as large as "the house," as 
the dwelling where the owners lived was 
always designated. 

There was, also, at the head of the street 
a large hospital building fitted up with a 
drug room, beds and all the paraphernalia 
of a regular city hospital. One large room 
was devoted to the care of the small chil- 



36 



dren whose mothers worked in the field. 
They were brought each morning to this 
room and put in charge of such of the wo- 
men as were incapacitated, from age or any 
other cause, from hard work. A little far- 
ther down was a long, low building, de- 
voted on Sundays to their religious exer- 
cises; and on festive occasions to their 
dancing and other amusements. 

In another direction was the mill to 
grind the corn into meal ; and there the cot- 
ton gin, the blacksmith shop, carriage 
houses and stables — making in itself a pros- 
perous village. 

All was surrounded by tall trees; and, 
seen through these trees, was a flourishing 
flower garden. Back of the kitchens, 
which were two in number, was the pride 
of the cook's neart — a splendid kitchen gar- 
den. 

Then, the change in their manner of liv- 
ing. In the winter going to New Orleans, 
with unlimited credit, indulging themselves 
in buying any and everything that taste, 
fashion or caprice might dictate— either to 
wear or for replenishing their house Then, 
returning home with a full steamboat cargo 
of luxuries to eat and drink: filling their 
houses with guests, who did not come with 
a shawl strap, but with a wagon load of 
trunks, and accompanied by their own im- 
mediate servants. Nothing apparently to 
do, but to enjoy themselves to the fullest 
extent of human capacity for enjoyment. 

The ladies of the north envy this, and see 
in it only the highest form of indolence 
They did not bake, brew, wash or scrub; 
but their responsibilities were proportion- 
ately heavy. Every week during the home 
living, the mistress of the house was expec- 
ted to go into the cutting room, and see if 
the neccessary amount of cloth and thread 
for the cutting out and making of the 
clothes for the field hands w-js there; as all 
their clothes were made by a force detailed 
for that purpose. If a servant of whatever 
age or sex was ill, "Misus" must go and see 
that servant as well as prescribes. Every 
complaint, whether fancied or real, was 
lightened if "Misus" wou'd listen to the re- 
cital; and many a time I have seen the ele- 
gantly dressed, frail, languid looking lady 



of this house leave her guests and go to the 
gallery to look at a puny, fretful, ash col- 
ored child, or an old, rheumatic negress, 
from whom our fair northern sisters would 
have turned with disgust. 

True, if she dropped her pocket handker- 
chief, she did not pick it up herself; but 
let the little dat key playing at her feet pick 
it up- or, if she needed anything in another 
room, she sent one of them after it; but if 
that same little darkey should fall down, she 
would be one of the first to be on the spot 
to inquire into his hurt. 

Who should or could care for these poor 
blacks like the one who had been brought 
up amongst them; whose earliest recollec- 
tions were associated with those old, grey- 
headed negroes: whose baby will, even, was 
law to these childlike natures? 

What a contrast now presented itself to 
my view as I stood on the gallery waiting 
the summons to breakfast. The large cot- 
ton gin was partially destroyed by fire. 
The mill for the grinding of the corn, dingy 
and dark for lack of paint. Tbe hospital 
and overseer's house, with an air of desolate 
neglect. A few of the cabins were newly 
whitewashed, making the contrast between 
them and the larger portion more marked, 
as they had a tumble down look and were 
closed. 

When Vicksburg fell into the hands of 
the Unionists, the negroes, influenced by 
the reports of the wonderful nature of the 
freedom gained by going into the Federal 
camp, nearly all flocked there from every 
plantation; and those on this place were no 
exception. Very few of their house ser- 
vants even remained at home. 

At camp there was not sufficient food to 
be procured for the great numbers, which 
entailed great suffering amongst them. To 
heighten their distress, army fever, measles 
and whooping cough broke out amongst 
them. They died off like sheep, for their 
great numbers precluded any idea of prop-/ 
erly caring for them. I 

Only about sixty all told, of my aunt's sev, 
vants returned to her. In the goodness of 
her heart she received them; for, weie they 
not like erring children to her? She open- 
ed the hospital and helped nurse them 



37 



back to health and strength. But in thus 
undertaking their good, she brought disas- 
ter upoo her own flesh and blood. Not 
only the remaining servants at home caught 
these diseases, but her own children and 
grandchildren did not escape contagion, 
and were the greatest sufferers 

Upon going to the breakfabt table I found 
as great a change. Her hundsome china 
and silver had been carried off, so that only 
the commonest neecessanes of the table 
were to be seen Whilst breakfasting she 
told me a portion of the harrassiog anxiet 
les that she had to endure. 

Living so near to the river front, she had 
been raided three different times Each 
lime the serviceable mules and wagons that 
she had with difficulty collected for the 
working of her corn field and garden, were 
taken from her. Her carriages were broken 
up; and all she had to use, at that time, 
were toe old ones that had been standing in 
the carriage house for years, as unfit for 
use; but the blacksmith had put them in as 
good repair as his rough wit and imperfect 
tools would allow him. 

As we finished our breakfast a tumult in 
the yard announced an arrival. Going out 
we found a train of ten empty wag ins un- 
der the command of a civil-inn who seemed 
to be well acquainted with the place and 
Us inmates, b* th black and white. 

I then, for the first time, understood the 
"Modus operandi" of the secret delivery of 
I .It through the country. To the people of 
the present day, it will seem strange to hear 
of whole States, in the Confederacy, with- 
out salt; for salt, as well as many other 
things, was not yet manufactured in the 
south. Now, with every avenue of com- 
munication closed between the outer world 
and ourselves, how could we procure those 
things? 

The south had never developed any re- 
sources within herself; but had confined 
^rself to raising cotton and a little corn — 
Wk enough of that, however, for her own 
jjl, but depending upon the west for the 
IPmt of it.. 

It was a surprise to most of the citizens 
<?f Louisiana to hear that in the interior of 
tiheir own State there was a salt lake, known 



to a few. but made of no utility; for it was 
easier and cheaper to buy their salt of the 
north or import it from abroad. 

"Necessity," however, "is the mother of 
invention;" and now in the hour of our 
need, enterprising men had carried large 
iron kettles to the lake and taken men and 
negroes there. They boiled the water 
down — spreading and drying the flakes 
thus procured This was then put into 
wagon boxes and hauled as near to the Mis- 
si-sippi river as they dared to go. They 
then stopped to reconnoiter. If any 
danger seemed to be near they hid and 
remained quiet. But if all was apparent- 
ly safe, this salt was taken across the 
river on a dark night, in row boats: re- 
loaded, and distributed through the neigh- 
boring towns. 

The men who attended to the manufac- 
ture and transportation of this commodity, 
were exempted from military duty ; as the 
supplying of salt was considered a public 
necessity. 

The escorts to these trains were armed, 
and would have fought desperately for 
their charge and themselves. The gentle- 
man who now stood before me was the head 
man of the organization, and took charge 
in person of every tr-iin, in and out; going 
half way back with the empty wagons, to 
meet the loaded ones on their way in; and 
taking them in turn to the river. During 
all the time he was engaged in this business, 
(and of course he had to follow it until the 
close of the war) he never lost a wagon or a 
man. 

He never came to my aunt's place with 
his full train, for fear of bringing trouble 
upon her; but, on his return trip, he always 
stopped over night, paying her liberally for 
the accommodation of his teams and men. 
She told me I hat the oniy money she ever 
had now, was the money he paid her. 

How could I help thinking that God 
smiled upon my undertaking; for here, 
most unexpectedly, was solved the riddle of 
further proceeding. 

My aunt had received through some 
source, to her unknown, a note from my 
husband which had puzzled her not a little; 
for in it he had implored her, if by any 



— 







38 



means in her power she could assist me in 
getting to a certain village in North Louis- 
iana that he named, to do so. As she knew 
nothing of my whereabouts, and as he him- 
self did not impart any information in 
regard thereto (knowing nothing definite 
himself), she said sadly, as she told me, "I 
thought poor Geoff's wits were wandering " 

Mr. Gray said, if she had two negroes she 
could trust with her carriage as far as Mon- 
roe, he would put the baggage and older 
children into one of his empty wagons and 
take charge of me. Her carriage would 
have to be sent back on reaching Monroe, 
and I would have to trust to Providence for 
a carriage to take me on from there to my 
destination. Or, if worst come to worst, j 
could ride on the wagon containing the 
trunks; and that wagon he would send all 
the way with me, as he knew well where it 
was. Of course it was an unknown country 
to me. After the experience I had had, all 
my way through, of difficulties clearing 
themselves miraculously out of my path, I 
could not hesitate. It seemed to me as if 
this opportunity was heaven sent! The poor 
woman implored me to remain with her. If 
I went off with these rough men, could I 
trust them? Then again, if any Federal 
troops should happen to be on land, a fight 
must be had between them and the salt es- 
cort, and what would then become of me! 
Surely, here was disinterested affection! 
My presence upon her place would certainly 
bring her into trouble, if ascertained by the 
Federal authorities. 

That, afternoon saw me started very com- 
fortably on my journey; for in spite of my 
protestations that I could ride in the ss.lt 
wagon, she would send her carriage and 
men the full distance mentioned by Mr. 
Gray, practicable for her. 



CHAPTER IX. 

WAS IT HAUNTED? 

Mr. Gray had guaged his drive for that 
afternoon so as to have the family remain 
on that side of a formidable bayou, at a hos- 
pitable house where he was well known. 
They were old friends of my aunt,who told 
me to use her name freely, to insure at least 
a shelter, if not welcome. 



In most of the houses, as you approached 
the interior of the State, there was hardly 
provisions enough for themselves, and what 
live stock they might possess; and often, 
when traveling, had I been told by the peo- 
ple, with tears in their eyes, of their inability 
to give me anything to eat, as they dared not; 
for they did not know where a single mor- 
sel more was to come from, when their 
present supply should be exhausted. They 
would always find me a bed. 

As we neared the house, Mr. Gray gal- 
loped forward to ask for admittance. When 
I reached the gate, I was told that my aunt's 
name bad proved an "open sesame," and I 
was welcome. 

His teams were ordered to cross the bayou, 
and camp on the other side, to start 
early in the morning, as we could 
easily overtake them the next day. 
To tell the truth, I hardly expected to see 
my baggage again ; but let me here say that 
in all that trip I found my escort true and 
honorable men. 

After sitting awhile, I became conscious 
that I was being closely observed by the 
three ladies of the house. Anxiously I put 
my hand to my collar and hair, to try and 
discover what was amiss, but I found noth- 
ing that seemed to need remedying. 

Finally one of the ladies proposed telling 
me of a fearful fright they had experienced 
some weeks before. 

Shesaid: "It was about nine o'clock, a 
dark, windy night, with sleet blowing against 
the windows, and so cold that it whs with 
difficulty they kept warm with their fire 
places. The water in the bayou was the 
highest known before in years, and the 
bridges in all directions were washed away. 
As they sat by the fire, with no light but 
that of the pine knot, ihey heard a noise at 
the front door, as of someone stumbling on 
to the gallery Overcoming her fear, one of 
them opened the door, and in stalked a 
drowned man, Beemingly. His face was aj 
white as one of the dead! His black e*\ 
wide open, but apparently seeing nothilL', 
Water dripping from his coal black hair! 
No cloihes on, but undershirt and drawers, 
from which the water ran in streams ove 
the floor! Without speaking he walked t 






39 



t.tfae fire, saak to the floor and closed bis 
yea, apparently dead! She sci earned to her 
ervants, who ran in, but dared not approach 
the stranger. She threw the keys of her 
ide board to one of them, ordering brandy 
([brought to her, which she endeavored 
1 to pour down his throat. For some mo- 
ments, from his inability to swallow, she 
deemed him indeed dead; but after a few 
efforts, she had the satisfaction of hearing 
him swallow; then he opened his eyes, while 
a wan smile played around tiis mouth, as he 
faintly murmured 'Excuse,' and looked at 
jhis scanty garments. She said, 'I almost 
'kissed him, I was so glad to see some signs 
of life about him, and he was so handsome!' 
As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, 
two of her men took him into a bed-room, 
gave him a bath, put dry clothes uoon him, 

J and pouring a hot tody down him, left him 
safely asleep. They also put a civilian suit 
of clothes, belonging to a son, who was in 
the army, into the room for him to put on 
in the morning. 

" 'The handsomest man that I ever saw,' 
she continued, * walked in to breakfast the 
next morning, smiling and bowing, ex- 

I cusing himself for his unpremeditated en- 
trance into the house the previous evening 
He said he was an officer from Monroe, 
coming down to the river front to inquire 
a little into the state of affairs there, and to 
visit friends in that vicinity. As there was 

» no farm house for five miles back, he had 

'intended crossing the bayou at that point, 

• to ask shelter for the night at our home. 
Finding the bridge washed away, he 
attempted to swim his horse across ; but the 

I current proved too strong, and carried the 
horse oft' his feet; and he and his rider 
would both have drowned; but, as they 
passed a submerged tree, the officer caught 

jhold of the branches and drew himself out 

| of tbe saddle. The horse finding himself 
leleased, had probably saved himself.' 
ItarThis I knew to be a fact; and told him 
[W his horse had come into the yard that 

■Rning, and was safe in my stable. 

^" After the horse had left him, the officer 
Let himself down into the water to swim 
ashore; but he had hardly taken a stroke, 
before he found that would be an im- 



possibility, for his clothes weighed him 
down so, and his he;.vy cavalry boots were 
already filled with water. He then divested 
himself of his outer garments, to try again. 
As the night was so stormy and bitter cold, 
he did not dare think of remaining in the 
tree all night, exposed to the wind. Twice 
he was hurled back into the branches of the 
tree, but the third time he succeeded in 
reaching the shore. 

"Instinct alone moet have guided him to 
the house, as he bad only a dim recollection 
of laying a while on the bank, and of tbe 
grateful warmth of the fire, until he opened 
his eyes into my face, when I was giving 
him the brandy. After breakfast the serv- 
ants took a boat, and rowing to the tree, 
found his clothes all safe, and brought them 
to the house. The officer remained with us 
until his clothes were dry. His papers were 
saturated and matted together with mud. 
Amongst those that he gave me to try and 
restore for him, I found a daguerreotype, 
which I took from the case and dried, leav- 
ing it but little the worse for its soaking." 

She stopped, and continuing slowly, she 
said, "That picture was your likeness, and 
you are Major Hall's wife." 

Thus their staring was accounted for. 
They had recognized me by my daguerre- 
otype. I was so pleased to hear of my hus- 
band having been rignt in that same place, 
though there had been so long an interval 
between. I found upon comparing dates 
that this was just before he had received my 
letter, for he had told them of his anxiety 
in regard to his wife and family. 

The negro girl who showed me to my 
room that night, took great delight in ex- 
patiating upon the Major's "deventure," as 
she termed it, and in telling me that in that 
very room and bed was where he slept after 
his drowning. 

The next morning saw me on "my win- 
ding way." It was noon before we overtook 
the wagons. They were halted by the side 
of the road where there was good water and 
shade. 

That night we arrived at Monroe, and 
found that the only house where I could be 
accommodated with food and shelter, was 
the house of an acquaintance of my husband. 



WVBMH 



This was the very house I would have 
avoided, if possible, as it had the reputation 
of being haunted. But I had no alternative, 
as the carriage could not afford us a resting 
place as the ambulance had. The house 
was one of the oldest in that section ; and 
being in excellent preservation, and a good 
specimen of toe houses built by the French 
colonists, I will try to describe it It was 
two stories high. The lower floor consisted 
of a broad passage through the centre; this 
passage was broader than most rooms of the 
present day. On one side was an immense 
saloon parlor. On the other side, the cor- 
responding space was divided into rooms - 
one the family sitting room; the other 
the nursery. Extending back from this 
side, was a long building, forming the 
dining-room and kitchen, with all the clos- 
ets and pantries pertaining to those rooms. 
A very wide gallery, with the balustrade 
beautifully carved, ran all around the whole 
building. The fire places were in the pas- 
sage, and in all the rooms were beautiful 
specimens of carving. 

Unlike most houses, the s'aire, instead of 
being in the hall, were built on each side of 
the wing forming the dining room, and up- 
on the gallery. The landing above was also 
up n a gallery, which extended all around 
the house up there, and corresponding in 
every particular, even to the carving, with 
the gallery below. 

The chambers were extravagantly large, 
roomy and high. Each room opened from 
either side upon this gallery. Each room 
was also separate to itself— there being no 
doors opening from one to another. Each 
was furnished with a fire place to corres- 
pond with those below stairs. They were 
elegant rooms. The exposure to light and 
air on two sides made them cool and com- 
fortable in the warmest of weather. 

The yard was completely filled with 
shade trees, which, in that portion of the 
country, grow to an immense size. 

The legend of the house, as told and ex- 
perienced by my own husband, recuneJ to 
my mind so forcibly as night cume on, that 
I begged my hostess to muke us pallets in 
one of the lower room?, which she willingly 
did. 



The family themselves were nevei 
troubled with the aparition, as it never ap> 
peared to anyone bearing the old name, 
whether by marriage or birth; but their 
guestB had been so frequently disturbed by 
it, that they fully believed in it, without 
demanding occular proof. This is the story } 
as related to me. 

"It being a cool night, I had closed all 
the doors and windows; and having con 
siderable money in gold with me, had fast- 
ened them all. The transoms over the 
doors afforded sufficient ventilation, al- 
though extremely narrow. In the night I 
was awakened by a heavy pressure upon my 
chest. Opening my eyes I beheld, by the 
moonlight streaming through the window, 
a little, very old looking lady, seated 
composedly upon the side of my bed. look- 
ing intently into my face, and pressing 
heavily upon my lungs. 

Having no suspicion of anything super- 
natural, I observed her closely before speak- 
ing. She seemed to be dressed richly ; for 
I noticed, even in spite of my astonishment, 
her diamond earrings, and the elegant lace 
around her throat, where another large dia- 
mond gleamed. 

By the time all this had entered my mind, 
I gasped out, (for her strength was so great 
that by this time I could only gasp,) "Who 
are you? What do you want?" A mourn- | 
ful smile was the only reply, while she ! 
pressed upon me with redoubled force. J 
With a tremendous effort I freed my hands 
from under the covering, and by using bot 
hands and feet, I threw her from the bed.' 
Then seizing a pillow I hurled it after hei 
but she eluded it. , 

Then I tried to grasp her! The only ide 
in my mind being, that she was a lunati^ 
I chafed her around and around the room- 
her diamonds glittering in the moonligh' y 
but not the slightest sound escaped her. He 
clothes made no rustling, and there was m, 
movement in the air from her motions. , Ifj 
I could only grasp her, I felt sure of h • 
ing her; tor she seemed no larger thauji 
child of twelve. She was dressed in souKS 
soft stuff that fell in full folds around hen 
person, to her feet. Her eyes wercij 
piercingly black, and held very wide open ■: 



41 



ft but her hair was startlingly white, and 
tftcoiled m heavy braids around her head. 
ic Bow many times we went across and 
a around that room, I cannot tell; but finally 
nehe stopped on the side of the room where 
tljthere was no door, nor any manner of 
f jcgress. As I approached her, I said "be 
[not alarmed, madame! I will do you no 
1 harm!" With the same mournful smile as 
before, she looked steadily at me, but made 
no reply. She allowed me to approach 
nearly to her side," and— SHE WAS 
^GONE! 

5 I staggered to the nearest seat and rubbed 
3 my eyes, but saw nothing. I was certainly 
sUlone in that room. As soon as I recovered 
^myself a little, I lighted my candle and 
pslooked around. Every particle of the bed 
cloihing, as well as every article of my own 
•'clothing, was strewn around the room inev- 
tlery direction, just as I had thrown them at 
* her, one after another as I could grasp them, 
oJ in our mad career. I gave the walls a close 
^inspection; but there was certainly no mode 
bjof egress there. I then went out on the 
ofgallery. Not a soul to be seen, nor a sound 
tflheard. Determined to investigate as thor- 
oughly as possible, I then went into the 
hi room adjoining mine. But that was all 
n right. The side of my room ib rough which 
Bghe disappeared, was at the rear end of the 
n j building, and there was no gallery across 
S'lthat end; nothing, but the blank walls. 
h For the first time I felt fear; and I determined 
d to go back to my room, thoroughly dress 
myself, and sit up the rest of the night, 
id Dressing was rather a work of time; as 
chairs were overturned, and my clothes had 
to be sorted out from the bed clothing. I 
did sit up the rest of the night, on the 
lower gallery overlooking the street, 
tt'. Curious looks greeted me, and innunieiable 
jc questions in regard to my haggard looks, 
{(from my brother officers, who took their 
I: meals at that house always, when quartered 
in Monroe. I answered at random; but I 
i! could not help noticing that my hostess as- 
ij sisted me in my evasive answers, instead of 
I joining my queriests. After breakfast I 
sought an opportunity to question her in 
turn; and she told me that it was an 
\ old story to her ; that for a long time they 



had not used that room, on account of these 
appearances. It was always the same — an 
old woman with magnificent diamonds: a 
dim tradition had descended from one gen- 
eration to another, that an old lady had 
been murdered there, by a grand-daughter, 
in order to get her diamonds; but after her 
crime, the diamonds were never seen ex- 
cept on the old lady's ghost. The one who 
committed the crime, was haunted by the 
grandmother's ghost, until, aiter pining 
away to a skeleton under the pressure, she 
confessed hor crime and cliedl There was 
a superstition, that it would be some one's 
mission to overtake her some night, in that 
chase after her; for she always seemed to 
invite that same mad chase. 

My blood ran cold, as she told me with 
lowered voice, how the grand-daughter de- 
scribed her terrible crime! She had pro- 
posed smothering the old lady in her bed; 
but she had awakened and sprang from her 
bed; and the girl chased her around 
the room, until she caught her and stran- 
gled her in self defense; as she feared that 
the old lady would tell of the attempt, if 
she spared her, and have her punished. 
The murderess told how the old lady 
seemed to invite her to chase her, and how 
she smiled )iko n fiend when caught! Al- 
though when the chase commenced, the 
diamonds were in her earB and at her throat, 
tbey had disappeared when the crime was 
conBumated ; and, as was said, were never 
afterwards seen— only on the ghost. Who- 
ever should succeed in overtaking her ap- 
parition, would secure the diamonds, and 
the spectre would disappear — never to re- 
turn; but probably the life of the success- 
ful one, would have to pay the penalty; 
as the tradition demanded that the success- 
ful person should pine awav and die like 
the original murderess 

Oh, I exclaimed! Not for all the dia- 
monds the old witch ever possessed, would 
I endure such a fright again! 

My hostess calmly said, sleep there again 
to-night. I will guarantee that you would 
not be troubled, for she never appears twice 
to the same person. 

This was my husband's experience of the 
haunted house ; and he finished the etory 



42 



by Baying, with emphasis, "I cannot say 
whether it did ever appear twice to the 
same person, for I carefully avoided 
ever staying there again." 

I saw no ghost; for I was protected by 
the presence of children of the same name 
and race as the ghost herself. But, for all 
that, I was sincerely rej iced when day- 
light greeted my wakeful eyes. 

The next morning brought a courier with 
a dispatch for me. This proved to be an 
order from the General commanding that 
portion of the Trans-Mississippi Depart- 
ment to which my husband belonged, to a 
citizen of Monroe, directing him to furnish, 
for a reasonable compensation, a carriage 
and mules to take me to Mount Lebanon— a 
three days j urney from there. When I 
reached Mount Lebanon. I was to proceed 
to the house of a Doctor Matthews, where I 
would find shelter. Upon presenting this 
order to the person named, 1 was imme- 
diately furnished with the requisite car- 
riage and mules. 

The courier told me that most of the 
command was on the opposite side of the 
river from Monroe ; also, that my husband's 
boy, Tom, ''Faithful Tom," was there; but 
that the Major himself, with an escort and 
a train of wagons, had been ordered to a 
point some seventy miles farther on than I 
was directed to go. 

Very little preparation was needed that 
morning, and I bade the haunted house 
"Good-Bye" for ever. When I passed 
through Monroe again, in more peaceful 
times, the madame was dead; and I natur 
ally avoided the "Haunted House!" 



CHAPTER X 



MOUNT LEBANON. 

On reaching the opposite side of the river, 
which I crossed in a ferry boat with a de- 
tachment of soldiery, I proceeded directly 
to camp to see Tom. Poor Tom! He 
shed tears of joy at seeing us all safe; but 
could give me no late tidings of his "Mars 
Geoff." He thought, however, that, unless 
I missed him on the road, I would certainly 
meet him before I reached Mt. Lebanon. 

"Where is Mt. Lebanon? Who is Dr. 



Matthews? What am I to do when I g 
there, Tom? 

"Dunno, Miss Francie! Reckon dat dej 
will know there when you dun got there.' 

Tom packed a basket of provisions from 
the camp stores and again I took up my 
weary wandering. Three flays in dry s*nd 
up 1o the wheel hub, through pine forests, 
up hill and down hill. Northern Louisiana 
has but tew hills; and t.hesa all seemed to be 
upon the road leading from Monroe to 
Shreveport. At last in the light of the set- 
ting sun of the third day out we emerged 
from a pine wood directly into the heart of 
ihe unpretentious village of Mt. Lebanon. 

Mt. Lebanon before the war was cele- 
brated for its Baptist College. The build- 
ings were now used to some extent for hos- 
pital purposes, though only on a limited 
scale, as the village was too far from any of 
the military posts. 

The college of course was closed as a col- 
lege, for all our southern young men old 
enough to attend school were in the army. 
Poor boys! A very different school. 

We inquired our way to the residence of 
Dr. Matthews I watched with intense curi- 
osity for my first view of the house to which 
I was directed, aud with some dismay 
thought over the situation. 

I had received no directions except to go 
to the hou«e of Dr. Matthews and announce 
myself ; and this direction did not come 
from my husband; but from the note the 
courier had brought me from the commat , 
ing general, who was at that time a Strang^ 
to me. True, Tom had corroborated thn 
But it was only Tom, who could not be re. 
sponsible, if there was any mistake. 's 

The college building first met my eye f 
the carriage turned upon the street leading 
to this dreaded house; for my uncertainty 
had made me so nervous that I could have 
almost turned and fled. 

These were large white buildings a long 
distance from the street with an immense 
yard in front filled with black walnut trees. 

There are no shade trees in the north that 
grow to such a size as the walnut and oak 
in that country. When they reach a cer- 
tain height the tops are cut off for fear of 
the damage that they might do if allowed tc 



k 



43 



tbecome too top heavy and one of those fear- 
■ xul winds should arise which are so common 
in that country. The trunks of the trees 
are so broad when they are sawed off that 
my children often climbed up and sat on 
them, almost hid from view by the dense 
foliage. • 

Just beyond those buildings was another 
large yard with a handsome, one-storied 
white house and plenty of out houses. 

As we looked towards the house we saw 
comirjg from the front door to the gate a 
gentleman with a hammer in his hand. The 
carriage approached so noiselessly on the 
3andy street that the first intimation he had 
of our presence was the shout of joy which 
I arose from the older children of "Papa, 
I papa!" 

It was, indeed, he! I could not speak! 
r .t was not until we reached the house steps 
that a word passed between husband and 
wife! It was such an unexpected meeting 
on my part! 

He explained that he had hurried up his 
business at Shreveport and started the trains 
of supply wagons under his command on 
the direct road to, Monroe, whilst he 1 .ad 
made the detour to reach Mt. Lebanon 'fa 
h ?>pes to find me already there, or some 
message in regard to me from the Colonel. 
fie would have been obliged to leave the 
next morning in order to overtake his teams, 
so that a few hours delay on my part would 
have prevented our meeting. I was intro 
dticed to Dr. Matthews and his wife and 
<;>iree lovely children. In that hour I be- 
lame acquainted with those who proved to 
;fe trustworthy and firm friends to me and 
line. 

A dinner was instantly ordered. Whilst 
lat was being prepared the situation of 
tKffairs was opened to me. Upon receipt of 
ay alarming letter my husband's faith was 
o strong in my capacity to overcome diffic- 
ulties, and he was so sure that I would get 
icross the river and from there into the 
leart of the country to find him, — although 
low or when was more than he could 
>ven imagine, — that he immediately began 
earching for some portion of the State 
vhere they were not entirely eaten out by 
e soldiery, and also back from the road 



far enough not to be liable to have soldiers 
billeted upon them. 

He found this little Baptist village with 
one church, three large stores, a small pri 
vate school, and belter than all the rest, no 
soldiers had ever been quartered there; and 
very seldom had any ever passed through 
the village, as it was too far inland. 

It was about one hundred miles from the 
Mississippi River, nearly the same distance 
from the Red River and about six miles 
from the direct road leading from Shreve- 
port to Monroe. 

He had purchased this place from its pres- 
ent occupants; but they were to remain 
there for three months with my family as 
boarders, until I could canvas the country 
and pick up such articles for housekeeping 
as I could find for sale. After dinner I was 
taken to the carriage house and shown an 
old-fashioned roomy carriage which one of 
the neighboring planters had sold to him; 
and, in the stable, a fine pair of mules to go 
before it. 

In that country in summer the roads are 
so heavy with dry sand, and in the winter 
still heavier with this same sand becoming 
wet that mules are used almost exclusively 
for carriage service; as horseB very soon 
wear out over these roads. Great care is 
taken by people of means to procure well 
mated and handsome mules. To people 
unacquainted with mules, a mule is a mule 
— and nothing more. But I can assure you 
there is quite a choice in mules. I have 
seen them when tbey were quite as hand- 
some and intelligent looking as fine horses. 

Early the next morning we again bade 
each other farewell ! But it was so different 
now from any of the rest that I laughed as I 
kissed my hand to him and he passed out of 
eight around the corner of the street. 

Can any woids express the peaceful reel 
of those months! No care— no anxiety ! I 
literally did nothing but rest. Indeed, now 
that the need of anxious planning had 
passed, my tired brain and nerves began to 
assert themselves, and I for the first time 
realized the magnitude of the journey I had 
taken. 

Back in the pine woods of Mississippi 
some sixty miles, through woods and over 



44; 



bayous to the river: not kiaowing at what 
hour I might be pounced upon by Federal 
cavalry I Then, passed those fearful mon- 
sters of death and destruction, the gunboats! 
Then, through cypress swamps, up the 
sandy hills of North Louisiana, through 
pine forests with houses — some ten or 
twelve miles apart; others, one hundred! 
No white person — nothing but strange 
blacks with me— entirely at the mercy of 
any foe that might present itself! This 
journey I had undertaken without the slight- 
est idea of how each successiuo stage was to 
be accomplished ! 1 had started with faith 
in accomplishing my purpose when I left 
New Orleans! And I had started on this 
trip with the same confidence in the motto — 
Aide toi, Dieu t aider a! And here I was 
anchored at least for a while! 

What wonder that for months after the 
bare reccollection of those days and nights, 
which were passed in the fullest acceptation 
of the words — "Not knowing what an hour 
might bring forth," would bring on an at 
tack of nervousness that would startle me 
to my feet and I would walk and walk, until 
physical fatigue would beget the needed 
sleep. 

Here we remained until the close of the 
war. A peaceful life compared to the past 
two yea r s Whenever the troops were 
quartered at Monroe I would take a carri 
age and drive there, remaining in camp 
until they made a move. After a few 
months Tom came from camp and remained 
at home with me. 

He was the blackest negro I ever saw, 
with all the faults and virtues of his race, 
but with none of their vices until he was 
free. Then his downward course was » 
rapid one. He remained with me about a 
year after the act of freedom. 

He came to me one day with tears in his 
eyes saying, "Miss Francie! You won't go 
back to the city until Mars Geoff is in busi- 
ness again; and I am done homesick!" 

A few days after that with weeping eyes 
he left us. After I returned to the city I 
searched for him and found him. He had 
been earning one hundred dollars a month 
but was discharged for drunkenness. I 
found him in the lock up. 



When he was released I had him come to 
us and tried to reclaim bim. For a short 
time he was steady. Then he fell. Twice 
I made the effort; but he was irreclaimable! 

He died two years after— ruined by that 
which should have been an inestimable 
boon to him — freedom! Poor »soul! To 
many of them freedom meant only license! 

When the negroes were set free it was 
feared that an insurrection would follow, 
and as there were at least fifty negroes to 
every white person in the country places, 
our chance of escaping utter destruction 
was very limited if sucn an event should 
occur. 

On my place I was the only grown white 
person. I had one colored woman and Cal- 
lie, the young colored girl who bad been 
with me through all my wanderings, be- 
sides eight negro men. 

A passage through the centre of the bouse 
let out upon the galleries. On one side of 
this passage was my parlor and my dining 
room. On the other side was a large nurse- 
ry and my own room. During the first few 
weeks following the "Act of Freedom," 
e> "ry night I locked myself in these Inst 
Lamed rooms Across the door of my room 
Tom laid his mattress every night. At the 
head of my bed I kept, loaded and ready 
for use, two army and two small revolver?, 
one Colt's single barrelled pistol and a rifle. 
These I should have used if necessaiy, and 
used them with confident skill. I had be- 
come so light a sleeper that a strange step 
in the yard would arouse me. 

One night, Tom being far from well, 1 < 
dered bim 'to sleep in the cabin. I w 
aroused about three o'clock in the morn in 
by a slight touch on the handle of my doc 
In an instant I was on my feet, pistol 
hand. 

"Who is there? Speak quick!" 

"Sam, Miss Francie." 

Sam was the servant whose duty it w; 
to attend to the light fire that w-js require 
at that season of the year; but, since we ha 
anticipated trouble, I had given him orde 
not to come to my rorm for that purpru 
until summoned by Tom. 

"Why are you hero at this hour of tl 
morning? Your orders are not to con 






45 



near the house till called!'' 
"Yes, Miss Francie; but as Tom was sick, 

. I tout p'raps I better come early." 

"Sam, if you are not out of that passage 
in one second I shall fire upon you!" 

"Don't shoot, Miss Francie! I — " What 
further he would have said, I never knew; 
for at that moment I heard Tom say, "You 
fool nigger, wat you doin here! Clar out, 
fore Miss Francie shoot you!" 

Sam apparently walked off ; and I heard 
Tom lie down in his blanket outside the 
door, muttering to himself the only words 
that I could hear, "Fool nigger; guess dey'll 
find dis nigger aint dead yet!" 

After the troops were disbanded, trouble 

I was anticipated from the lawless ones being 
turned loose upon the country, with no law, 
either civil or military, to protect the peo- 
ple. 

I The commissary wagons were ordered to 

\"Shreveport. But before they reached our 
'nlace the supplies belonging to that depart- 
ment were nearly all appropriated by the 
pen of the brigade to their own use. There 
Was a feeling of despair prevading the 
ranks. No money but Confederate; no 
ponds but worthless cotton bonds; their 
homes despoiled; their farms untilled; not 
l)nly no servants to till them, but no hopes 
lor prospects of having any means to hire 
mything in the shape of a man to take the 
place of the lost servants. 

They considered that in taking these 
jirmy supplies they were but taking their 
>wn. 

Think of a man going back to a home 
vith every building partially in ruins, every 
piece of furniture destroyed, every orna- 
ment of the house carried off I 

In some houses in North Louisiana and 
Arkansas the Federal troops had used the 
rooms of the planters' houses for stables 
land their pianos for mangers. I knew one 

jgentleman whose house was thus used. He 
went to his desolate home, where he found 
about forty out of his former force of six 
hundred in the cabins. He made a bargain 
with them to remain with him. He then 
went to New Orleans to his former mer- 
chants and bankers. He succeeded in ob- 
taining, by mrirtaa^ing to its full value ODe 



of his large plantations, money sufficient to 
give him a feeble start. Upon going back 
he took his servants and with their assist- 
ance made a couple of rooms inhabitable. 
Into these he put his mother, wife and two 
babies. 

Then commenced the struggle for a bare 
existence. Taking a few acres of land he 
put himself at the head of his feeble force 
and worked with them to put in a little corn 
and cotton. How glad was his heart after 
Weeks of unaccustomed and incessant toil 
to see his crops looking so fine and promis- 
ing! 

Taking his wife's little hands in his own 
that evening he kissed the blisters that were 
fast forming into hard bunches, on hands 
which never before had known a day of 
toil, saying, "My own love— everything 
looks as if next year my sweet wife could 
be a little more comfortable." 

This was the last night of hope! For the 
next day the rumors of the oyerflow from 
above came to him, and in a few days he 
and his family were in an upper room of 
his house looking from a window upon a 
grand scene of desolation. Where before 
were fields of promise now was to be seen 
only the angry waters of the Mississippi. 
The lower rooms of his house were already 
filled, and most of the articles of poor fur 
niture that they had succeeded in collecting 
together were floating around. On a little 
rise of land near the stables stood a few 
drowned-looking specimens of live stock. 
What a sense of helpless desolation must 
have crushed upon that man's heart when 
be reflected on his future! Blacker than 
ever was the thought of it! And especially 
so, when he thought that all his means were 
exhausted and, added to his former trou- 
bles, was the heavy debt of the borrowed 
thousands for that venture! 

"Hope reigns eternal in the human breast!" 
Before the waters had dried away from bis 
doors, he was in New Orleans again. 

Pleased at his indomitable courage his 
bankers urged him to come to the city and 
practice his profession. He had been liber- 
ally educated and had passed his examina- 
tion as a lawyer, but he had never practiced. 
What need had he of practicing law? He 



•46' 



was the owner of a large plantation and five 
or six hundred negroes, besides being the 
sole heir to another place equally as large, 
as his own and fully as many negroes. 

Practice law ! How his heart leaped at 
the thought of leaving the hard manual 
labor from which his nature and his flesh 
recoiled! But he was not alone. Four help- 
less beings depended upon him for their 
daily bread. Where was this to come from 
whilst he was waiting for clients who might 
never come? All the expenses of even the 
humblest home in the city would be an im- 
possibility to him! So he stilled his heart 
and asked for a small loan to start a wood 
yard on the river bank. 

He, the fashionable, prGud and fastidious 
gentleman, had worked like the commonest 
negro, and even with them, to plant a few 
of his paternal acres. But now he must 
stoop even lower, for that was far above his 
reach this year. He must keep only force 
enough to care for a wood yard for fear that 
he would not be able to pay them. He be- 
gan to sell and help load wood on steamers 
whose decks he had once trod as one of the 
proudest of all Louisiana's proud planters as 
one of the gayest of all her gay young men ! 

Again the shapely hand of the gentleman 
was put to hard work, and again the little 
white hands of which he was so proud, and 
which no rough labor could disfigure, took 
hold of the unaccustomed routine of house- 
hold work. 

A rumor of another freshet ! It cannot be 
possible, for never were there known two 
successive years of freshets! Alas, they did 
not remember the abandoned attempt of the 
cutting of a canal opposite Vicksburg, 
which was still an enemy to them ! A foe 
more unrelenting even than the Federal 
force who cut it. 

It proved true. In one night the work of 
months was again swept away! Now what 
was there left for the true-hearted gentle- 
man to do? 

Again he returned to New Orleans. Not 
this time to ask another loan, but to turn 
over everything he possessed in the world 
to those who had helped him in his sore 
strait. It was all that he had, but it was 
only a drop in the bucket. 



At that time an emigration scheme to 
Brazil was started for the needy Southern 
people, and leaving his little family to fol- . 
low him, he joined the emigrants. "For," 
said he as we bade him 'Good-bye' on the 
wharf, "it is at least so warm there that 
Lilhe and the babies will not need any sur- 
plus clothing, and they need not go hungry 
for we can live on fruit." 

Where is heroism best displayed? la it in 
battle amid the excitment and dash of cav- 
alry, or in the cool and deliberate fight 
against poverty, hunger and utter despair? 

He was but one out of many who had to 
take up the battle against these bitter foes. 

But to resume: — 

Owing to this despoiling of the supplies 
the train had dwindled down to one im- 
mense wagon drawn by four mules. By the 
time they reached our house this wagon 
was empty, but the driver had in his posses- 
sion one piece of the "cadet gray" stuff, of 
which the soldiers' suits had been made. 

Just before dark Tom brought us the in- 
formation that a body of ex-soldiers were 
moving rapidly towards the village. They 
were on their way to Shreveport to report 1 ., 
but had resolved to find the remnant of thrtt 
supply train and make the "Major" din- i 
gorge his spoil They did not belong to j 
the same brigade as himself but had been j 
members of a command in Arkansas t 

They had been told, as we afters Acs 3 
learned, that the Major had taken all tie 
wagons and their contents, as well as ill 
the mules belonging to them for his sham: | 
so they had determined not only to take t » 
themselves all of these articles but also t< 
strip him of his personal affects in reveng 
for his taking the lion's share from hi 
comrades. 

As soon as Tom had told the news w< 
prepared for secreting our own privaU 
stock. My horses and mules were taker 
off a few miles in an opposite directi n an^ 
locked up in a friend's stable. Of the fouj 
mules belonging to the wagon the driveij 
selected the best two of them and sent ther 
off with my horses; and he said with truilif 
that "he had as good a right to them mult^ 
as the Arkansas men — seeing fis how he ha< 
driven them nigh onto two years." 



47 



We congratulated ourselves that our lit- 
le son witb his pony, his "Nonpariel," was 
>ut in the country. We decided to sit up 
ill night if necessary to wait for them. 
Sight o'clock — nine o'clock — and the dash 
>f "Non panel's" little hoofs were heard, 
md with a "View halloo" our son came 
nto the yard. He was received with om- 
nous silence; for we had supposed him 
isfe and his pony with him. He explained 
lis unexpected appearance by saying that 
le had calculated tne chances of his father 
)eing at home by that time; and had de- 
sided after supper upon riding home to try 
hat chance. It was too late to hide the 
)ony. What was to be done? 

Contrary to all masculine precedents they 
istened to a woman's counsels. 

Sending all the servants to bed but Tom, 
vho alone knew of the hiding place of the 
itock, I had the pony tied to one of the 
)06ts of the gallery near where there was a 
lELmmock swinging. In this hammock I 
>ut the boy, seating myself in a large arm 
'.hair near by, with Tom crouched close at 
ii,nd. My husband and the driver, having 
)£©n up all of the night before, I prevailed 
ipjon to lie down for a nap. This they did 
thout removing their clothes and with 
solvers at hand. 

It was a starlight night. I alone kept 
itch. Not a light was to be seen — not a 
und heard, except the distant barking of 
log. It was so peaceful — so lovely ! Can 
be possible that I am watching for the 
;ad of a foe ! Can it be possible that all 
e sleepers around me are armed, sleeping 
;htly, with finger on the pistol trigger? 
I looked out into the beautiful night, 
ider those trees stands the one wagon, 
jking so ridiculously small under the 
adowing trees that I smile with scorn ! 
it possible that for the sake of that insig- 
ficant thing we are anticipating blocd- 
fed? Bloodshed! of men who had been 
aged in the same cause ! 
eated there alone in that infinity of soli- 
J&e I gradually forgot the occasion of my 
atching and lost myself in thoughts sug- 
;8ted by the silence, by the magnitude of 
od's creation, the vast expanse above, 
rough which the eye could pierce to the 



starry heavens, when hark! A noise is 
heard that rouses me! The distant tread of 
feet — not the measured mark of military 
force, but the reckless tread of a mob ! A 
mob more to be dreaded than all the mili- 
tary forces of the Union and Confederate 
Armies combined; for it meant unbridled 
license, and I was but a woman with all a 
woman's fears! Tney came! Dark and 
vague their forces looked in the dim light 
of the stars as they halted at the chained 
and locked gate! Finding no way to open 
the gate they vaulted the fence. With 
much noise on their part, but with ominous 
silence at the house, they ran to the gallery. 

What is this that meets their astonished 
gaze? A blinding light thrown on the 
scene; and a "Tableaux vivant!" 

In front, under the darkness of the trees, 
now stands the silenced mob! On the gal- 
lery under the strong light swings a ham- 
mock with a boy in it looking out with 
sleepy eyes upon the scene! Near him his 
pony, which, startled by the light, is tug-, 
ging at his halter! In a chair a lady, who, 
with calm voice says:— 

"What is your wish, gentlemen? 

A dead silence! For what words can 
they address to that woman? 

"We have come to rob you and yours!" 

A silence ensues — broken at last by my 
saying — "Perhaps you would like to see 
my husband. Tom, call your master!" 

Tom sprang from under the hammock to 
do my bidding. He reappeared, accom- 
panied by my husband and his tall driver, 
who looked gigantic in that light. My 
husband removed his hat, while terse- 
ly requesting to speak to their leaded. 
Then they seemed to gain spirit when con- 
fronted by one of their own sex; and loud 
calls for "Jake" brought out from their 
midst a large uncouth man. Ho courteous- 
ly explained the way in which they had 
been told that the Major had gobbled up 
things, and of their determination to make 
him share up his plunder. 

Straightening himself to his full height, 
with flashing eyes he replied, — 

"Men, to my men I owed allegiance, and 
to any of them I would feel that I owed an 
explanation. To you I owe no duty. " 



Throwing down a bunch of keys, he con- 
tinued : 

"Here are the keys to my outhouses; ex- 
amine for yourselves. My stables are not 
locked; for, knowing that you were com- 
ing, and for what purpose, I have put my 
wife's horses and mules out of the way. I 
have not an animal on the place but my 
boy's pony. Here he is now and his pony 
with him. The wagon that you see under 
the trees is an army wagon ; but it came 
here empty. The one who drove the wagon 
is here! Captain Dobson, men!" 

Here the Captain moved more into the 
light, and said : 

"Men, I am not a finished gentleman like 
the Major; but I can tell you the truth just 
the same as he does. When we left the 
camp the boys of our own command emp- 
tied this wagon, leaving for me one piece of 
cloth. I took that for my own use, or 
rather for the use of my family; and I have 
hid that away from you. The wagon that 
I drove is the one that you see there in the 
yard. It was drawn by four mules; two of 
these I have hid for myself; the other two 
you may do as you please with. They are 
tied to the wheels of the wagon." 

A few moments of silence; then, three 
men apparently leaders, stepping a little 
forward, one of them said: 

"Msvjor, among so many men there are 
many minds. To satisfy all, we will be 
obliged to search your buildings. We will 
not search the house to please anybody." 

Taking up the keys they turned to go to 
the rear. Tom, at a few words from me, 
went through the house meeting them at 
the back door with a lighted torch with 
which he accompanied them on their 
rounds. 

Their search was soon over for they found 
nothing. Whilst they were gone one of the 
roughest of the men advanced and com- 
menced untying the pony's halter. My 
son sprang from the hammock and onto his 
pony's back, where he was when the men 
returned from their fruitless search. They 
went up to the pony, and, as they were 
evidently very much exasperated, we all 
expected they would make short work of 
taking the pony. 



They ordered the boy to dismount; but 
with flashing and indignant eyes he stoutly 
refused, and suddenly wheeling the pony 
around he rode him up the steps and onto 
the gallery amongst us. How handsome 
they looked ! We knew that interference 
would be useless, for what would resistance 
avail with such a force against us? And 
many of them daring, reckless men — made 
more daring and reckless by the cruei ex 
periences of war. 

They had a stormy debate amongst them- 
selves; but not a word was uttered on oui 
part. The dauntless courage of the boy, 
however, had carried the day. They mo- 
lested him no further but proceeded to take 
the mules. 

We were much interested in watching 
them in their division of two mules among 
some twenty-five or thirty men. Lawless 
as they were they had some spark of honor 
in their feelings toward one another; foi 
they put the two most miserable looking oi 
their number on those mules, and aftei 
taking a drink all around from the well 
tney took their departure. 

It was a relief to see them go; but we die 
not feel entirely safe, for five or six of they 
might return yet and do us much damagL 

Leaving the pony tied to a tree in Ton|j, 
charge, the child and myself retired. T rp 
gentlemen however remained upon the g\ e 
lery all night until the welcome appearand 
of daylight relieved them of any furtfc, 8 . 
apprehensions of present danger. ep 

Soon after tnis my husband went , 
Shreveoort to take the oath of allegian 
and give bis parole. 

Whilst he was in New York and Ne 
Orleans making arrangements for coi 
mencmg business again we remained at M 
Lebanon, where at last I found a purchas 
for our home and other real estate that -v 
had accumulated. 

I fully intended visiting again this pretl 
village where I had found such true an 
honost friendship; but for many years y 
were glad to have the wherewith to bu 
enough to eat and to cover our nakednes 

Alas! When prosperity just began f 
dawn upon us again sickness and deat 
came to my husband, and brought with , 






49 

ch terror that all thoughts of the past, pleasant or tearful, were swallowed up in this 
e great wave of despair! 

THE END. 



1TOTB 



The foregoing little history of a single family life, and principally of the wife and 
lother who still lives, is very far from being complete. It has been published, as a 
erial. in the columns of the Syracuse Sunday Times, and has received unusual praise, 
his little pamphlet is but the embryo volume, which will, by and-by, be published, 
'he book will be enlarged chiefly by incidents, — the like of which has scarcely ever been 
lid, much less experienced. It is hardly possible for a Northern wife and mother to 
aderstand it. The scene of the war was not at their doors. They did not have to pack 
p and rice from the approaching foe. They were not required to abandon their homes 
id household goods, and seek even imaginary safety as refugees in flight. They 
:mained at home, although their fathers, husbands and brothers went — some of them 
sver to return. The war was fought around other homes and upon another soil. The 
orth knew nothing of its local ravages. But when they read the experiences of the 
riter when fully told in the next edition of this little book, their hatred, if they ever had 
ny, will be melted into sympathy ; their love of country will be strengthened, when thev 
le the suffering to their sex the Lost Cause has cost ; and, with the mantle of charity 
irowD over the past, they will come to the reflection that a bond of unity should cement 
le kindred relations of the wives and mothers of the entire land. Let it teach the 
usbands and fathers of the land a lesson Let them learn and cultivate the arts of peace, 
id peaceful solutions of all dividing questions. Let intestine war be made impossible, 
scausc the wives and mothers of the land will not have it. So will the Union become 
rong in the hearts of all the people, and peace and plenty forever prevail. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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